Women's rowing strokes into first

Football couldn't do it, soccer couldn't do it, but the women's rowing team could -- and did. Three times.

The varsity women's eight, the lightweight four, and the novice women's eight beat both UC Davis and Stanford. Despite rainy skies and low temperatures, the women took first place in the collegiate competition and second overall at Lake Natomas on Saturday.

The CSUS Aquatic Center hosted the Head of the American regatta last weekend. Over 1,000 athletes competed in 29 categories over a three-mile course.

The Hornet varsity women crossed the line at 17:18 in first, stroked by Mieke Boynton, Tammy Forbes, Heather Watson, Amy Quigley, Christy Shaver, Megan Warren, Becky Theis, Abigail Smyth and coxswain Becky Devoic. This year's squad has an international flavor and talent from Australia and Canada courtesy of Boynton and Forbes, respectively.

The lightweight boat, under 135 pounds, stream-lined UCD by nine seconds at 20:44. The team is made up of freshmen and novice women Christina Clinton, Katie Summy, Katina Zannakis, Amy Black and coxswain Sabrina Low.

The novice women's eight rowed into the limelight with a winning time of 18:53, 17 seconds ahead of the Aggies and 27 seconds in front of the Cardinals. Their boat holds two Sacramento natives, Kim Fast and Megan Spitz.

The Hornets launch next on November 15 at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival.