April 5, 2003

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- All three USC crews earned berths in Sunday's final races with strong performances in their heats on Saturday at the San Diego Crew Classic at Mission Bay. The Women of Troy's Varsity Eight and JV Eight boats will compete for event titles on Sunday.

The JV Eight crew had the team's most outstanding performance of the day, winning its heat by nearly two lengths. The Trojans crossed the finish line in 7:35.8, while second-place Minnesota finished in 7:45.52. Washington and Washington State were the other heat winners. The four teams will also race against Stanford and California in Sunday's final.

USC's Varsity Eight finished second in its heat, as Stanford edged the Women of Troy by three seconds in the final 1,000 meters. The Cardinal finished in 6:56.9 and the Trojans followed with a time of 6:59.52. California won the other heat to set up a Jessop-Whittier Cup championship race in which all seven boats are nationally ranked, including Pac-10 foes Washington, Washington State and Oregon State.

In their first race of the 2003 season, the Trojans' Novice Eight had a good outing despite racing in Lane 5. USC finished third in its heat in 7:59.71, behind California (7:27.8.2) and Oregon State (7:47.36), and earned a berth in the Petite Finals to compete for places 7-12.

San Diego Crew Classic - Mission Bay
Saturday, April 5, 2003

Jessop-Whittier Cup
Women's Varsity Eight

Heat A
1. California - 6:54.6. 2
2. Washington - 6:54.85
3. Washington State - 7:01.51
4. Texas - 7:09.88
5. Duke - 7:13.03
6. Kansas State - 7:25.29
7. San Diego State - 7:49.91

Heat B
1. Stanford - 6:56.9
2. USC - 6:59.52
3. Oregon State - 7:08.50
4. Tennessee - 7:11.17
5. Wisconsin - 7:14.72
6. Minnesota - 7:16.87
7. Clemson - 7:16.99

Women's Junior Varsity Eight

Heat A
1. Washington - 7:29.33
2. Stanford - 7:38.17
3. Clemson - 7:49.89
4. Massachusetts - 7:51.83
5. UCLA - 8:15.07
6. San Diego - 8:21.70
7. Humboldt State - 8:33.08

Heat B
1. USC - 7:35.8
2. Minnesota - 7:45.52
3. Kansas State - 7:57.96
4. Sacramento State - 8:13.33
5. Santa Clara - 8:25.39
6. Southern Methodist - 8:36.64
7. Loyola Marymount - 8:36.95

Heat C
1. Washington State - 7:28.3
2. California - 7:34.70
3. Texas - 7:39.52
4. Oregon State - 7:41.21
5. Duke - 7:54.88
6. San Diego State - 8:11.58
7. UC Irvine - 8:27.61

Women's Novice Eight

Heat A
1. Washington State - 7:44.8
2. Texas - 7:52.56
3. St. Joseph's - 7:59.61
4. Stanford - 7:59.96
5. Clemson - 8:05.06
6. San Diego State - 8:33.34
7. Chapman College - 9:08.39

Heat B
1. Washington - 7:46.6
2. UCLA - 7:51.07
3. UC Davis - 7:51.53
4. UC Davis - 8:15.73
5. UC Santa Barbara - 8:23.28
6. Sacramento State - 8:48.50
7. Long Beach State - 9:06.11

Heat C
1. California - 7:27.8. 2
2. Oregon State - 7:47.36
3. USC - 7:59.71
4. UC San Diego - 8:21.45
5. Orange Coast College - 8:26.27
6. Southern Methodist - 8:31.83
7. UC Irvine - 8:34.99