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Rowing Allison Scott, sports information intern

Rowers head to WIRA championships

ARCATA – Countless hours of training have led to the first step in postseason as the Humboldt State crew gears up for the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships on Saturday and Sunday.
 
“I think this weekend will be a very defining weekend for us as a team to see whether we made any improvements,” said HSU head coach Robin Meiggs. “This is a team-driven championship where we'll see most of the west coast come together and give us some competitive regionals.”
 
The crew will head back to Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif., where the team spent part of spring break training earlier in the season. The weather is expected to be favorable, but where most would enjoy competing in these conditions, it is not what Humboldt State is accustomed to.
 
“It's supposed to be 80 degrees, but where we row at six in the morning and the temperature on average is about 40 degrees,” said Meiggs. “It's a pretty big shift for us. We had a pretty big blow last year with launching too early and some of the kids overheating, so we'll probably be on the conservative side this year.”
 
The regatta is set up as a progression system, where winners from events with multiple heats will advance to the Grand Final. The regatta will feature teams from Division I, II, III and club all competing in the same races, plus a women's two boat, which is a race the Lumberjacks have not seen yet this season.
 
“We have seen some deviation from normal lineups we've seen week in and week out,” said Meiggs. “We pulled two ladies out of the 2V8 and put them in the pair, and that's a pretty serious event. Two girls, two oars, no coxswain, and go. It's one of those events where you can't let up or somebody's going to steer you right off the course.”
 
The yellow Humboldt State oars will also be seen in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four, novice four and eight and lightweight four. Where lineups are ever changing, the V8 has remained a constant, but sickness has plagued the ladies all season.
 
“I can't say we've had exceptionally good races,” Meiggs said. “It's been a tough go for that boat. It's one boat where we haven't seen the lineup change but I don't think we've had one row where everyone has been in the same place at the same time. Last week we pulled the V8 out of the prescribed workout and they went off with just one coach and one boat and really tried to work on some more reach, more length and more run.”
 
If the Jacks can stay healthy, it will make for a highly competitive weekend. Each race counts as the championships use a point-driven system. All preliminary races are scheduled for Saturday with most Grand Finals to take place Sunday.
“All the different finals allow for very competitive racing but you only score points from anybody who goes to the grand final or wins the petite,” Meiggs said. “I expect everyone to be good and sunburned by the end of the weekend.”
 
To find more information on the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship, go to: https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/index.jsp?job_id=2564
 
HSU's Varsity eight lineup: coxswain Katie Harris, Edi Sullivan, Ashley Frakes, Gabrielle Wood, Shenae Bishop, Kayley Weber, Georgia Kaufman, Jamie Larrabee, Rachael Zarate
 
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