WSU women's crew beats Huskies

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