NEWPORT BEACH – The California Golden Bears women's rowing team first outing of the season was a successful one as its fourth and fifth varsity eights swept each of their two races at the California Challenge Cup in Newport Beach on Saturday morning. The course length was set at 1,400 meters. Both boats swapped races against UC Irvine and UCSB's top varsity boat.
 
In the first race of the event, Cal's 4V8+ had a dominant performance against UC Irvine's V8+ finishing with the fastest time of the day among the women's boats coming in at 4:39.14. In its second race against the UCSB V8+ it quickly had a bow to stern lead after the first 500 meters that grew to a full boat length of open water by the halfway mark and the Bears cruised to the win in a time of 4:45.953.
 
In its first race, the Bears' 5V8+ posted the second fastest time of the day among the women when it faced UCSB V8+ and came in at 4:42.641. In its second race of the day against the UC Irvine V8+, it was a fairly tight race off the start with Cal taking just a 3-seat lead at the 250-meter mark. The Bears put together a charge and quickly developed an open-water lead as they entered the second half of the race and coasted to the win in a time of 4:51.201.
 
Since both boats posted the two fastest times of the day, they earned the chance to race for the Steve Guentz Challenge Cup. The 4V8+ ended up crossing the finish line first ahead of the 5V8+ in a time of 4:54.739.
 
"Both boats had a strong day of racing in our first competition of the season," Cal assistant coach Kirsten Girard said. "They were able to make improvements across all three races and finished strong by both qualifying for the final as the fastest two women's boats of the day. It was an exciting start to the spring! Thank you to UC Irvine for hosting us and organizing such a fun event."
 
NEXT UP
Cal has a four-week break before it hits the water again at the annual San Diego Crew Classic in Mission Beach Mar. 29-30.
 
California Challenge Cup Results
 
4V8+ Race 1
1. Cal – 4:39.14
2. UC Irvine V8+ – 4:47.352
 
5V8+ Race 1
1. Cal – 4:42.641
2. UCSB V8+ – 4:56.894
 
4V8+ Race 2
1. Cal – 4:45.953
2. UCSB V8+ – 5:06.437
 
5V8+ Race 2
1. Cal – 4:51.018
2. UC Irvine V8+ – 4:58.201
 
Steve Guentz Challenge Cup Race
1. Cal 4V8+ - 4:54.739
2. Cal 5V8+ - 5:20.693
 
Lineups
4V8+
Coxswain: Lauren Peters
8. Claire Banks
7. Eve Barrancotto
6. Rachel Furtaw
5. Gwyneth Fagg
4. Isabella (Bella) Laddy
3. Kate Nixon
2. Sydney Koutrouba
1. Maile Nelson
 
5V8+
Coxswain: Emily Kendall
8. Louisa Molloy
7. Frieda Cramer
6. Kylie Landers
5. Maude Smith-Montross
4. Ava Andrews
3. Kylee Harrington
2. Filippa Ljunggren
1. Campbell (Cami) Lovell
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's rowing, follow the Bears on Instagram (@calwrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).