SAN DIEGO — The UC San Diego women's rowing varsity eight boat won the Cal Cup for the first time in program history on Sunday as part of the Tritons' two-day competition on Mission Bay at the San Diego Crew Classic.
 
The Tritons had three varsity eight and two varsity four boats take on the 2,000-meter course. Prelims were held on Saturday, with finals on Sunday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The V8+ Cal Cup is normally a stand-alone competition, but this year races were held in conjunction with the Jessop-Whittier Invitational. A total of 11 boats made up the field, with UC San Diego one of eight that advanced to Sunday's grand final.
 
The Cal Cup was awarded to the best-finishing eligible team in that grand final, which the Tritons locked up on Saturday as the only Cal Cup boat to qualify for the race. The Tritons placed fourth in heat one with a time of 6:40.686 to move on. UC San Diego was eighth in the joint final race on Sunday that was won by No. 1 Texas.
 
Also looking to advance on Saturday was the 2V8+, but the Tritons finished fifth in their heat and subsequently raced in the B final on Sunday. That race was a dual with Sacramento State, which went the way of the Hornets.
 
Saturday's 3V8+ heat was only for lane assignments on Sunday. The Tritons finished in sixth in both races.
 
Both of the Tritons' varsity four boats ended up in B finals. The V4+ crew had a strong closing sprint against Sacramento State, but ultimately fell short by 1.778 seconds. The 2V4+ crew, meanwhile, enjoyed a successful end to the competition after winning a three-boat race. A final time of 8:25.717 put the Tritons 5.952 seconds clear of San Diego and 7.872 seconds clear of Sacramento State.
 
RESULTS – FINALS
Varsity 8+ Jessop-Whittier/Cal Cup Invitational
1. Texas (6:19.318)
2. Washington (6:20.139)
3. Cal (6:24.993)
4. Washington State (6:36.751)
5. USC (6:38.748)
6. Notre Dame (6:41.951)
7. UCLA (6:44.915)
8. UC San Diego (6:49.475)
 
2V8+
1. Sacramento State (7:30.882)
2. UC San Diego (7:36.063)
 
3V8+ Carley Copley Cup
1. Texas (6:44.655)
2. Washington (6:48.141)
3. Cal (6:50.353)
4. Notre Dame (7:11.751)
5. UCLA (7:16.341)
6. UC San Diego (7:35.642)
 
V4+
1. Sacramento State (8:09.379)
2. UC San Diego (8:11.157)
 
2V4+
1. UC San Diego (8:25.717)
2. San Diego (8:31.669)
3. Sacramento State (8:33.589)
 
LINEUPS
V8+
Cox: Sabina Petersen
Stroke: Kiera Cooper
7. Lily Feagler
6. Samantha Anderson
5. Annica Ford
4. Laine Bradley
3. Ciara Auran
2. Natalie Norstad
Bow: Natasha Vallancey
 
2V8+
Cox: Peyton Fisk
Stroke: Indianola Scott
7. Audrey Worley
6. Rachel Cuneo
5. Ameli Tucker
4. Charlotte Hunter
3. Reagan Dryden
2. Kate Nowak
Bow: Matti Key
 
3V8+
Cox: Jackie Halberstadt
Stroke: Emilie Yang
7. Anna Rowlands
6. Audrey Seiger
5. Mia Smith
4. Sae Ackerstein
3. Abby McLeod
2. Holly Handler
Bow: Ellie Swanson
 
V4+
Cox: Melinda Pullin
Stroke: Jacqueline Byun
3. Maya Reisinger
2. Izabella Gwizdak
Bow: Erin Sugarman
 
2V4+
Cox: Anika Senan
Stroke: Deedee Balsbaugh
3. Mara Button
2. Jaime Church
Bow: Caroline Gross
 
UP NEXT
The Tritons head to the other side of the country April 12-13 for the George Washington Invitational in Washington, D.C.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.