SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Gonzaga men's rowing team battled San Diego and UCSD Saturday morning int its third race of the season. The Zags' kept pace with the conference foes on the 2000-meter course on Mission Bay near Fiesta Island.
 
Gonzaga's varsity eight started quick, battling UCSD for the second position for most of the race. It wasn't until the final 150 meters that the Tritons overtook the Zags for second. The Bulldogs finished the race just over a second behind UCSD with a time of 6:13.7, while USD took the top time in 6:09.2.
 
"I was really pleased with racing today in both boats," Head Coach Dan Gehn said. "The varsity was night and day from last week and came out swinging from the start. They ran in the second until the last 150 meters. This gives us something to build on moving forward."
 
In the JV8, GU battled for a third-place finish less than six seconds behind UCSD's winning time of 6:22.6. The Zags crossed in 6:28.5, edging USD's JV8-B team by more than five seconds.
 
"The JV8 battled hard through the middle of the race but fell off in the last 500," Gehn said. "The four novices just keep getting better every time we hit the line."
 
The Zags return for their final home regatta next Saturday, May 1, as they host Santa Clara at the Johnson Family Boathouse on Silver Lake. Racing is set to begin at 9 a.m.
 
Varsity 8
USD 6:09.2
UCSD 6:12.6
GU 6:13.7
 
JV8
UCSD 6:22.6
USD 6:24.6
GU 6:28.5
USD B 6:33.9