Varsity Fours Sweep 2024 Dexter Lake Invite

LOWELL, Ore. – The 17th-ranked Oregon State women's rowing program was in action Saturday morning, hosting the Dexter Lake Invite in what would be the team's final tune-up before the 2024 Pac-12 Championships on May 19.
 
First down the course was OSU's second varsity four (Grace Sansoterra, Anna Bledsoe, Elke Thursten, Isabella Mitchell and Margo Calub). After getting out to an early lead the Beavs held nearly a full boat length on all crews for much of the race. Gonzaga made a late push in the sprint but it wasn't enough to surpass OSU, who finished in 7:26.7 to take the first win of the regatta.
 
That momentum carried into the first varsity fours, as Taylor Denger, Reese Wyatt, Megan Lautner, Annelise Norkitis and Zoe Bishop would claim the day's second victory. After battling UCLA and Oklahoma early on, OSU held about a one-seat lead at the midway point. The Bruins countered to regain the lead, but Oregon State was able to surge in the final quarter of the race to finish in a time of 7:25.34, approximately two seconds ahead of the Bruins.
 
In the second varsity eight, OSU's crew of Nicole Shultz, Charlotte Lightfoot, Becca Logan, Kate Worley, Tulla Angeley, Anneka Davys, Ashtyn Miller, Katie Judd and Sasha Delman battled Gonzaga early and often for the third and fourth position. Sitting in third at the thousand meter mark, an all-out sprint led Gonzaga to take the advantage over the Beavers' 6:43.41 fourth place finish.
 
The varsity eight proved to be the closest race of the Dexter Lake Invite, with places one through four all finishing within four seconds. Gonzaga took an early lead and battled UCLA with the Beavers and USC following just behind. Though Gonzaga took the victory with the Bruins in a close second, OSU's varsity eight of Charlotte Gregory, Giulia Clerici, Maeve Donnelly, Evan Park, Rhianna Loughnan, Lauren Garrett, Becky Falash, Torree Hawken and Alex Hutchinson walked through the Trojans in the final 500 meters to secure their third place finish in a time of 6:32.66, just ahead of USC's 6:33.31.
 
In the final race of the day, Oregon State's third varsity eight (Emily Wood, Addy Dunlap, Caitlin Kirkpatrick, Jenny Doss, Hannah Stively, Ellie Roberti, Kinsey Olarrea, Abigail Thomas and Zoe Eberle) finished the course in 7:33.84, taking third place.
 
The Beavers return to action on May 19, heading to Gold River, Calif., to compete in the 2024 Pac-12 Championships.
 
Our Mission: Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent, Authentic, Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
 
Final results:
1V8+:
1 - Gonzaga (6:29.50)
2 - UCLA (6:31.14)
3 - Oregon State (6:32.66)
4 - USC (6:33.31)
5 - Oklahoma (6:42.34)
6 - LMU (6:47.38)
 
2V8+:
1 - USC (6:37.9)
2 - UCLA (6:41.19)
3 - Gonzaga (6:41.94)
4 - Oregon State (6:43.41)
5 - Oklahoma (6:47.75)
6 - LMU (7:11.83)
 
1V4+:
1 - Oregon State (7:25.34)
2 - UCLA (7:27.37)
3 - Gonzaga (7:29.59)
4 - USC (7:32.89)
5 - Oklahoma (7:38.38)
6 - LMU (8:03.29)
 
2V4+:
1 - Oregon State (7:26.7)
2 - Gonzaga (7:31.45)
3 - UCLA (7:38.83)
4 - Oklahoma (7:43.03)
5 - Oklahoma B (7:53.00)
 
3V8+:
1 - UCLA (7:00.2)
2 - USC (7:06.51)
3 - Oregon State (7:33.84)