San Diego, 10 AM PT Saturday:
Based upon the weather and racing reports from back East, I can't imagine any crews racing out here getting any sympathy for griping about some choppy water...
Racing is underway, collegiate heats on Saturday morning yielding a big early season surprise:
Cal Men's Coach Steve Gladstone hinted that Stanford's varsity men's 8 would be a strong rival this year. His 2nd ranked Cal crew found out just how strong Saturday morning.
Stanford turned the tables on Cal, defeating the Bears in their Copley Cup heat. Both crews, along with 3rd place Penn, advance to tomorrow afternoon's final. Navy, Northeastern, and Purdue advanced in that order from the morning's 2nd heat.
The Stanford varsity women also made a statement in the Whittier Cup, winning their heat. That same heat saw UCLA and Tennessee edged out Texas for the other two spots in tomorrow's grand final. In the other Whittier heat, Cal was first, followed by USC and Washington State ahead of Notre Dame for the qualifying spots.
In the 'mid-majors' of the collegiate crew world: The men's Cal Cup heats saw a strong performance by Larry Gluckman's Trinity crew. Trinity jumped out early and easily won their heat in the fastest time of the event. Gluckman may have a special group this year, looking to make a season opening statement here after having won the Collegiate 8 event by a ton at the Head of the Charles last fall. Gonzaga and Minnesota were other heat winners.
The women's Cal Cup final will have a strong local rooting interest, as San Diego State won their heat over Kansas State. Central Florida posted the fastest heat time of the event in winning their heat, while Sacramento State took the final heat.
Sight of the day, Friday afternoon
Several members of a junior girl's crew (that shall remain anonymous) heading to the ubiquitous port-a-johns…situating themselves in a row according to their positions in their boat lineup, then entering the port-a-johns in unison.
Surreal "Cops" Event of the Weekend
Several Union Boat Club rowers, walking to dinner Friday night, witnessed a man in a white SUV pull out of a lot at Mission Beach with a San Diego cop chasing him on foot. The cop reached into the window, punching the driver. The driver attempted to wedge the cop into a parked car, sideswiping the parked car and driving away with several police cruisers in pursuit. Yes, it was a white SUV leading a police chase in Southern California...
The SD cop was fortunately unhurt, and, according to police on the scene an hour later, the driver of the SUV crashed about a mile up the road, breaking his neck.
See also Dan's pre-regatta report, posted Friday night.
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