Breakage Hinders Varsity in Newport

April 16, 2005

Newport Beach, CA: The Trojan Navy raced at the Newport Regatta in Newport Beach on Saturday, winning the Men’s Novice Fours event and finishing a disappointing fourth and sixth in the Varsity and JV eight races respectively.

USC dominated the Novice Four grand final surging to an open water lead just twenty strokes into the race. Realizing the race was shortened almost 300 meters due to swinging currents that threatened to turn shells sideways at Lido Island, the Trojans were determined to go out fast and take control early. After 1000m the crew dropped its stroke rate to 26 strokes per minute and cruised home in a time of 6 minutes and 15 seconds.

The Varsity Crew was not so fortunate in Newport.

In the preliminary heats the Trojans finished with the second fastest overall qualifying time just 1.2 seconds behind UC Davis and were confident they could execute a better race in the final.

In the final, USC led the field after 500m into the 2000m boat race. “We had a terrific start and were rowing well,” said starboard oarsman Kevin Lorell. “Then the backstay on my rigger just snapped off. With nothing supporting the pin and oar lock it was difficult to put any pressure on the oar.”

Full Results Newport Regatta:

Varsity Eight
Preliminary Heat 1:
1. UC Davis 6 min 3.8 sec
2. USC + 1.2
3. Orange Coast + 3.6
4. UC Irvine + 7.5
5. San Diego St + 10.2

Preliminary Heat 2:
1. UCSB 6 min 07.3 sec
2. UCSD + 0.9
3. UCLA + 1.4
4. Santa Clara + 1.6
5. LMU + 13.2

Final:
1. UC Davis 6 min 00.4 sec
2. UCSD + 3.9
3. Orange Coast + 6.7
4. USC + 7.2
5. UCLA + 8.1
6. UCSB + 16.7

Junior Varsity Eight Final:
1. UC Davis 6 min 9.3 sec
2. UCSD No other times taken.
3. UCLA
4. Orange Coast
5. UCI
6. USC

Novice Four Final:
1. USC 6 min 15.4 sec
2. Santa Clara + 5.5
3. Long Beach St + 14.3
4. UCLA + 20.5
5. UCI + 27.7
6. UC Davis + 28.0
7. Chapman + 34.0

Next up for the Trojan Navy is the USC Invitational Regatta on Saturday April 23 on Ballona Creek in Marina del Rey.