Oakland Strokes varsity women capture a first at the San Diego Crew Classic
San Diego — The Oakland Strokes women's varsity eight took home the Gilman- Mulliken Cup and placed first in the junior women's division at the 39th annual San Diego Crew Classic last Sunday.
The Strokes completed the 2,000 meter course in 7 minutes, 11.56 seconds, besting second place finisher Connecticut Boat Club by almost 7 seconds. "We've had some good races this year and expected to be in the top three," said Deryk Byrnes, women's varsity coach. "But Connecticut has been very, very good this season--running over everything in their path. This was a nice surprise."
The winning rowers were Laura Rosas, Orinda (Miramonte); Lauren Dahlberg-Seeth, Orinda (Miramonte); Alex Ohman, Berkeley (Bishop O'Dowd); Katie Hubert, Piedmont (Piedmont); Corinne Bozzini, Lafayette (Campolindo); Kristen Lukins, Lafayette (Campolindo); Brittany Presten, Orinda (College Prep); Alia Schafi, Lafayette (Acalanes) and coxswain Amanda Rutherford, Piedmont (Piedmont).
"The women's second and third boats were awesome, too", Byrnes said. "This is a young group of kids but we have a really good, deep team."
The Strokes fielded three women's boats and three men's boats in the regatta. "The boys did well against a very strong field," said men's coach Dameon Engblom. "The lightweight eight finished third in the final and the varsity eight lost a qualifying spot in the final by just one second to Long Beach Junior Crew, a club that beat the Strokes by over 20 seconds less than a month ago."
The San Diego Crew Classic is one of the largest regattas in the world, with more than 100 events and some 4,000 athletes from more than 100 U.S. universities, clubs and high schools.
Oakland Strokes, a 200-member junior rowing club for middle and high school students, represents 29 Bay Area high schools and has sent countless student-athletes to college rowing programs across the country. Each year the Strokes boats place strongly in local, regional and national championship regattas. Its boathouse is on the Oakland estuary near the High Street Bridge.
Photo caption: Oakland Strokes women's varisty eight celebrate their first place win at the San Diego Crew Classic. From left to right Laura Rosas, Orinda (Miramonte); Lauren Dahlberg-Seeth, Orinda (Miramonte); Alex Ohman, Berkeley (Bishop O'Dowd); Katie Hubert, Piedmont (Piedmont); Amanda Rutherford (coxswain), Piedmont (Piedmont); Corinne Bozzini, Lafayette (Campolindo); Kristen Lukins, Lafayette (Campolindo); Brittany Presten, Orinda (College Prep); Alia Schafi, Lafayette (Acalanes); Coach Deryk Byrnes and Sadie Byrnes.
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For more information contact Diane Moe at 925-377-0255 or 925-878-1677
