ARCATA –While the majority of the Humboldt State rowing team will remain in Humboldt for the Big Alumni Weekend on Saturday, the women's crew varsity eight boat will endure another long commute to participate in the 40^th annual San Diego Crew Classic.

Humboldt is ranked fourth in the nation in this week's CRCA/US Rowing Coaches Poll.

Link to poll:
http://www.row2k.com/polls/index.cfm?cat=college&ID=396&type=CRCA/USRowing%20Coaches%20Poll%20-%20presented%20by%20Pocock%20Racing%20Shells#.UVx_VVcUCAc

The San Diego Crew Classic is one of the biggest regattas in the country where 140 clubs, 76 cities, 27 states, and three countries will be represented. Humboldt State's V8 will race against Div. II foes UC San Diego and University of Central Oklahoma for the Women's Collegiate Varsity DII/III/Club San Diego Zoo and Safari Cup. Other schools competing against the Jacks are Mills College, Orange Coast College, Portland State University, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, Chapman University and Sonoma State Rowing Club.

“The significance of the crew classic is that it will give us a cross-region ranking with the University of Central Oklahoma,” said HSU head coach Robin Meiggs. “They have raced many of the schools out of the south region, so it will be important to try to figure out our general speed compared with those crews across the nation.”

The V8 will depart Thursday at 4 a.m. for San Francisco and fly the remaining distance down to San Diego. The two-day regatta, showcasing more than 4,000 athletes, will take place on Mission Bay in San Diego and main staging will be held at Crown Point Shores.

“We just raced UCSD this past weekend,” Meiggs said. “We beat them by about three seconds in the first race and one second in the second race. This is a group of ladies who flew to the Pacific Northwest and had to borrow boats from Western Washington. Well, now they will be sleeping in their own beds, racing their own boats and they will be racing on their home course. We expect them to be back on their games this weekend. I think our ladies understand the importance of really executing the race plan and trying to remain composed.”

For the athletes remaining at home, the Big Alumni Weekend will be a chance to get in some racing practice and have some fun. The regatta will give anyone who rowed for Humboldt State, men or women, the opportunity to get out and race, socialize and enjoy some barbecue.

“For us it's a good race rehearsal for the ladies who aren't going to the crew classic,” said Meiggs. “Mixed in with the Alumni Regatta will be our Green and Gold regatta which will give us some intrasquad competition. We'll try to make some even boats so they can go out and have some racing opportunities.”

The Big Alumni Weekend is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and will take place at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center.

For more information on the San Diego Crew Classic, visit: http://crewclassic.org/#