The UCSD men’s and women’s crews hosted the first ever Row for the Cure on Oct. 27 at Mission Bay, Calif., in what was the first race of the season for both UCSD teams. Proceeds from the race benefited the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization created to eradicate breast cancer by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
The race is one of only a handful across the country. According to UCSD women’s crew coach Pattie Pinkerton, the crews in the past have been unable to participate in the Race for the Cure due to scheduling conflicts with other crew events. The teams decided to take the race to the water, as rowing clubs in other parts of the country have done. UCSD is the first collegiate program to host a Row for the Cure.
Teams that participated in the event included UCSD, University of San Diego, Chapman University, San Diego Rowing Club, ZLAC Rowing Club, Mission Bay Racing Team and a handful of kayakers from the Olympic Training Center.
Against cross-town rival USD, the UCSD boats came in very close, finishing second overall.
“”We finished just six seconds behind USD,”” Pinkerton said. “”It was a very, very close race. We’re really pleased with where we’re at.””
In addition to providing spirited competition between the teams, the Row for the Cure also raised over $10,000 for the Komen Foundation. The money, raised through entry fees and pledges, will be given to the San Diego chapter of the Komen Foundation, with 75 percent of the proceeds staying in the local community to fund education, screening and treatment. The rest of the earnings will fund breast cancer research.
Following the race, an eight-boat dedication recognized Lori Ann Uptegrove, a UCSD coxswain from 1979 to 1982, who succumbed to breast cancer several months ago. Uptegrove was coxswain for the UCSD lightweight eight, which won a U.S. Rowing Association National Championship.
Following the Row for the Cure, the men’s and women’s crews traveled north to the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival for a competition on Nov. 3.
The women’s team took 10th place out of 22 teams, a respectable finish, considering that the competition consisted almost entirely of Division I scholarship schools. The women’s varsity eight boat improved on its time against USD, coming up short by just four seconds against the Toreros.
The men’s varsity eight finished ninth, edging UCLA by one second, and the men’s four finished at the top of the pack, almost a half-minute ahead of second-place USD.
The Triton crews are back in action on Nov. 10. The teams travel to Lake Washington in Seattle. Pinkerton scheduled the race in order to “”do some out-of-region racing to get ready for nationals.”” At the meet, UCSD will pay special attention to Western Washington University, which finished second in nationals last year.
Given the results of the first two races, Pinkerton is optimistic about the season.
“”Our whole goal this year is to try to go to nationals and finish in the top three,”” Pinkerton said.
The Nov. 10 Head of the Lake race will feature some of the toughest teams in the country.