Rowing | Unbeaten UW men triumph over Cal

BELMONT, Calif. — The top-ranked Washington men's varsity eight defeated California on Saturday in the annual dual regatta between West Coast rowing powers.

The undefeated Huskies opened a boat-length lead midway in the race and won by open water, covering the 2,000-meter course in 5 minutes, 42.11 seconds.

Cal's time was 5:48.71.

The 15th-ranked Huskies women's varsity eight suffered its third consecutive dual-regatta defeat, losing to top-ranked Cal. The Huskies had lost home dual regattas to Washington State and Oregon State after being the surprise winner at the San Diego Crew Classic.

The Cal women were clocked in 6:33.51, and the Huskies in 6:37.55.

Washington crews won the men's freshman eight, the women's junior varsity eight and the women's varsity four races. Cal won the men's JV race and the women's novice eight event.

The victory by the UW varsity men was the 14th straight in collegiate competition. Washington leads 68-29-1 in a series against Cal that started in 1905. Until Saturday, the Huskies hadn't defeated Cal back-to-back in the dual regatta since 1997-98.

Huskies crews will compete Saturday in Windermere Cup races at Montlake Cut, part of the annual opening day celebration of yachting in Seattle. The U.S. Naval Academy, Poland's under-23 national team and the University of Melbourne will compete.

Compiled from sports-information reports

Washington-California

Dual Regatta

At Belmont, Calif. (Redwood Shores)

(all events were 2,000 meters)

Men's varsity eight -- 1, Washington, 5:42.11. 2, California, 5:48.71.

UW Lineup: cox-Katelin Snyder, stroke-Will Crothers, 7-Heath Allen, 6-Jessiah Johnson, 5-Simon Taylor, 4-Blaise Didier, 3-Roko Svast, 2-Toby Dankbaar, bow-Lowell Neal.

Men's second varsity eight -- 1, California, 5:49.31. 2, Washington, 5:52.53.

Men's freshman eight -- 1, Washington, 5:51.22. 2, California, 5:53.27.

Women's varsity eight -- 1, California, 6:33.51. 2, Washington, 6:37.55.

UW Lineup: cox-Alysha Koorji, stroke-Kayleigh Mack, 7-Alison Browning, 6-Helen Wall, 5-Erika Shaw, 4-Kelly Foster, 3-Ashley Jones, 2-Kara Farquharson, bow-Hanne Trafnik.

Women's second varsity eight -- 1, Washington, 6:44.81. 2, California, 6:47.92.

Women's novice eight -- 1, California, 7:00.44. 2, Washington, 7:03.13.

Women's varsity four -- 1, Washington, 7:27.69. 2, California, 7:38.31.