Originally published Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 12:00 AM
WSU women's crew beats Huskies
The Washington State women's crew beat Washington on Saturday, for the third straight year.
Seattle Times staff reporter
The Washington State women's varsity crew accomplished something Saturday that the school's football program never has done — win an Apple Cup three straight years.
The "Apple Cup of Rowing" is the annual dual regatta between the schools. The crews face each other at other regattas throughout the season, but this is the "just-you-and-us" race that alternates every year between the Snake River and the Huskies course that starts on Lake Washington and ends in the Montlake Cut.
The Cougars took the lead about 800 meters into the 2,000-meter race and won in 6 minutes, 16.41 seconds. Washington — which had won the San Diego Crew Classic last week, with the Cougars finishing third — was more than a length behind in 6:21.01.
"We wanted a strong middle thousand," said WSU senior coxswain Kelly O'Brien, referring to coach Jane LaRiviere's instructions to dominate between 500 and 1,500 meters.
A newcomer to the rivalry was WSU stroke Irena Neffeoua, a junior transfer from the Czech Republic.
"I like it," she said.
"She's getting used to being a Coug," said O'Brien.
The Huskies are coached this season by Bob Ernst, who has switched back to directing the women after leading the UW men to the national championship last year.
"The Cougars have a good team," Ernst said. "We have to be on our game to beat them. ... They were on today, and we could have been better.
"We were probably under-stroking them a little bit. I checked our rate. It was probably two beats a minute lower than theirs. ... At about the halfway point, they put it on us and we just didn't respond well. Match racing is so different than six-across racing. Once someone gets through you, it's hard to get it back."
Washington won every other race, including the women's junior varsity, novice and four-oared events. But the race with a trophy is the varsity showdown, and the trophy was built by the father of former UW coach Eleanor McElvaine.
As expected, the Huskies won all the men's races. But rowing isn't a varsity sport at WSU, and the best two UW crews had the day off.
Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Summit West to open on Saturday
NEW - 11:53 PM
NW Briefs: NW Briefs: Washington volleyball falls at USC
Auto racing: Martin Truex Jr. earns pole for NASCAR event
NW Briefs: Seattle Pacific women out in first round of NCAA soccer tournament
Briefs | NHL: Red Wings beat Canucks in Detroit

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
631 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
189 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
177 - GOP clueless as families struggle with health care
162 - KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
128 - ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
125 - Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
115 - Prosecutor weighs death penalty in police slaying
103 - Wright State game thread
97 - Person of interest in custody in connection with Greenwood arsons
94
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15
- Boeing: 787 fix is complete on first plane
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks





