California men's rowing had a strong start at the San Diego Crew Classic, with its fourth varsity eight winning both preliminary races on Saturday. The team secured the fastest time among all collegiate competitors, finishing their first heat in 6:20.089 against UCLA and UC Davis. In the open challenge, they finished in 6:34.469, nearly 21 seconds ahead of the runner-up. With these victories, the Bears advance to the finals scheduled for Sunday morning.

By the Numbers
  • Cal's fourth varsity eight finished its first race with a time of 6:20.089.
  • In the open challenge, Cal finished in 6:34.469, nearly 21 seconds faster than second place.
State of Play
  • Cal's fourth varsity eight dominated both heats during the first day of competition.
  • The team secured a competitive advantage for tomorrow's finals races.
What's Next

The Bears will compete in the Cal Cup grand final at 9:51 a.m. PT and the men's open 8+ final at 11:35 a.m. PT on Sunday, aiming to maintain their momentum and secure additional victories.

Bottom Line

California's impressive performance positions them as strong contenders in the finals, highlighting their dominance in preliminary heats and setting high expectations for Sunday's races.