Posted: Saturday, June 6, 2009 12:00 am
Corvallis Gazette-Times
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - The Oregon State men's rowing team concluded its 2009 season with a ninth-place finish in the Open 4+, and 16th place in the Varsity 8+ and Freshman 8+ divisions at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on Saturday.
The Third Level Finals of the V8+ was tightly contested from the start, with 17th-seeded Princeton taking an early lead, and the remaining five crews in a close battle for second. It took 16th-seed OSU until the 1,000-meter mark to climb from sixth place, overtaking No. 22 San Diego and setting its sights on fourth-place Gonzaga. The Beavers continued to gain on the field in the final 500 meters, overtaking the Bulldogs and crossing the line fourth. By virtue of their result in the Third Level Finals, the Beavers placed 16th overall in the varsity division.
In the O4+ Petite Finals, Cornell was able to take an early lead, while George Washington, OSU and Harvard all battled for second. The Beavers slipped into fourth place at the 1,000-meter mark, but stormed back over the final 500 meters to overtake the Colonials for third, and ninth overall in their division.
In the F8+ Third Level Finals, all crews were within 3.35 seconds of each other after the first 500 meters, with the 15th-seeded Beavers in third place. OSU slipped to fifth at the 1,000-meter mark, but shot past No. 18 UC San Diego and No. 16 Gonzaga to retake third headed in to the final 500 meters. OSU crossed the line in fourth, just 0.75 seconds behind second place No. 13 Boston and 0.18 behind third place Gonzaga. They were 16th overall.