INDIANAPOLIS – The Western Washington University women’s rowing team opened competition at the 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships on Friday at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park.
After waiting out a seven-hour delay due to weather and race course conditions, the Vikings put together a pair of solid races to put themselves in good position heading into the final two days of the championship.
In the opening race of the day for the Vikings, the Varsity 8+ was in third place after the first 1,000 meters, but mounted a furious comeback to overtake UC San Diego and eventually Florida Tech to win the second heat in a time of 6:38.454. By winning the heat, the Vikings will advance directly to Sunday’s Grand Final. Central Oklahoma won the first heat in 6:42.700, also advancing to Sunday’s Grand Final.
The Varsity 4+ kept in contact with Central Oklahoma through the first half of the race, but the Bronchos pulled away to win the heat with open water advancing to the Grand Final. WWU will race at 10:48 am ET/7:48 am PT in the four-boat repechage, with the top two finishers advancing to the Grand Final.
More information on the NCAA Rowing Championships, which includes the Division I, II and III races, can be found online via at IndianaSportsCorp.org. The 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships is hosted by Indiana University, in conjunction with Indiana Sports Corp and the Indianapolis Rowing Center. The 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships will stream online at NCAA.com.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
WWU was the national runner-up in 2018 and won the program’s eighth national title in 2017. The Vikings won seven consecutive national championships from 2005-2011. WWU has taken home the gold (8 times) or silver (4 times) medal 12 times in the 17 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded dating back to 2002. During the 17 years of the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships, the fours have won nine individual titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018) and the eights have six titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011).
