Long Beach State Crew took home the gold medals for the Women’s Lightweight (LW) 4+ and bronze medals for the Women’s Lightweight (LW) 8+, in the 2010 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s Regional Championships (WIRA). The LW 8+ grand finale took place Saturday afternoon in a race against Stanford University in the lead followed by Willamette. UC San Diego and Washington State trailed behind Long Beach State. The Beach finished with 7:56.

The grand finals continued Sunday morning with the LW 4+ taking an amazing win for the gold by a whole boat length and a half at 8:19.7 against Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Willamette, Cal Berkeley, and Seattle University.

As you can see from the photos below, the team brought a healthy contingent of fans with them to the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, who cheered them on to victory.  More than likely, the award-winners will head east to the American Collegiate Rowing National Championships later this month, held in Oklahoma City.

Other top boats included the Women’s Novice 4+ and the Men’s Lightweight (LW) 4+, finishing sixth and fifth, respectively, in the western region.

Photos by John King, courtesy LBSU Crew