LAKE NATOMA, Calif. --- Portland rowing's varsity eight, second eight, varsity four, and novice four each posted qualifying times in their respected heats on the first day of the 2019 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, and all four crews advanced to Sunday's Grand Finals. The two-day regatta on Lake Natoma features some of the top schools from the western region, and the top six times from each event on Saturday advanced to the grand final.
 
The varsity eight, coxed by Miranda Reyes with Lauren Jesse rowing stroke, covered the course in time of 6:51.944, which was good enough for third in their heat. The Stanford lightweight crew posted the fastest time of the two heats, and West Coast Conference foes San Diego and Loyola Marymount will also row in the grand final.
 
Portland's second eight topped both Saint Mary's and Santa Clara to reach the final. With Emma Papenhausen as coxswain and Megan Del Pozzi at stroke, the Pilots claimed a time of 7:16.022. Sacramento State had the fastest time of the second eights, and San Diego State finished first in Portland's heat.
 
The varsity four made it three-for-three when they finished fourth in the prelim with a time of 8:06.928. That was ahead of Sacramento State, the Stanford Lightweight crew, and Saint Mary's, and San Diego State posted the top time of the prelim. Portland had Allison Pallazzotto at coxswain and Meredith Marcinko in the stroke seat.
 
The novice fours then gave Portland four boats in the grand finals when they finished second in their heat with a time of 8:26.852. The novice fours featured 20 crews spread out over four different heats. Katie Bayford rows stroke for Portland's novice four, while Joselene Piedra Rodriguez is the coxswain.
 
Portland also put a double on the water, with Alondra Quiroga-Bernal and Sydney Gardner pairing up to record a time of 10:08.081, which sent them to the petite final later Saturday evening. In the petite final, the Pilots finished second to UC Irvine with a time of 10:10.979.
 
Sunday's schedule begins with the varsity eight grand final at 8:30 a.m. The second eight follows at 9:40 a.m., the varsity four is set to go at 10:30 a.m., and the novice four concludes the WIRA Championships at 12:10 p.m.
 
2019 WIRA Championships Day One Results – Lake Natoma
Varsity Eight
Heat One
1. Stanford Lightweight, 6:36.249
2. San Diego, 6:40.095
3. Sacramento State, 6:53.360
4. Santa Clara, 7:15.746
 
Heat Two
1. San Diego State, 6:42.371
2. Loyola Marymount, 6:44.407
3. Portland, 6:51.944
4. Saint Mary's, 7:01.975
 
Second Eight
Heat One
1. Sacramento State, 6:53.706
2. Loyola Marymount, 6:57.634
3. San Diego, 7:09.359
4. Santa Clara, 7:50.649
 
Heat Two
1. San Diego State, 6:57.754
2. Stanford Lightweight, 7:11.741
3. Portland, 7:16.022
4. Saint Mary's, 7:34.155
 
Varsity Four
Prelim
1. San Diego State, 7:39.760
2. Loyola Marymount, 7:44.085
3. San Diego, 7:44.085
4. Portland, 8:06.928
5. Sacramento State, 8:11.103
6. Stanford Lightweight, 8:27.808
7. Saint Mary's, 8:33.333
 
Double
Heat One
1. Loyola Marymount, 8:12.430
2. Humboldt State, 8:51.367
3. Long Beach State, 9:34.433
4. UC Irvine, 9:46.614
5. Pacific Lutheran, 10:45.021
 
Heat Two
1. Stanford Lightweight, 8:03.891
2. UC Davis, 8:50.176
3. UC Santa Barbara, 9:16.343
4. Portland, 10:08.081
 
Petite Final
1. UC Irvine, 9:58.703
2. Portland, 10:10.979
3. Pacific Lutheran, 11:05.876
 
Novice Four
Heat One
1. Pacific Lutheran, 8:12.021
2. Portland, 8:26.8652
3. Santa Clara, 8:32.169
4. UC Santa Barbara, 8:54.020
5. Stanford Lightweight, 9:35.791
 
Portland's Line-ups
Varsity Eight: Miranda Reyes (coxswain), Lauren Jesse, Catherine Watson, Desi Petrova, Veronica Nicacio, Avery Romano, Brooklin Gomez, Tess Pritchett, Jacquelyn Bass
 
Second Eight: Emma Papenhausen (coxswain), Megan Del Pozzi, Brianne Zbylicki, Megan Medalia, Lilly Landers, Reeca Bardon, Acacia Welsford, Audrey Shellum-Gonzalez, Karen Gonzalez-Yanez
 
Varsity Four: Allison Pallazzotto (coxswain), Meredith Marcinko, Mollie Rutz, Lauren Yee, Amanda Hernandez Michalski
 
Novice Four: Joselene Piedra Rodriguez (coxswain), Katie Bayford, Katelyn Barney, Maddie Olson, Sage Iona
 
Double: Sydney Gardner, Alondra Quiroga-Bernal