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GOLD RIVER, Calif. - The Western Washington University women's rowing Varsity 8 had a strong second 1,000m to win its heat Friday at the NCAA Rowing Championships on Lake Natoma.

By winning their heat, the Vikings automatically advance to Sunday's Grand Final scheduled for 9:48 am. The V8 trailed at the midway point to Central Oklahoma by a slim margin, but powered through the second half of the course to win in deciding fashion finishing in open water. The Vikings clocked 6:54.679 over the 2,000m course, the best time amongst the six V8 boats in the championship. Barry University also advanced to the Grand Final winning its heat in 6:59.001.

"The V8 just had a great race - start to finish - and came out and did exactly what they wanted to do," said 18th year head coach John Fuchs. "They raced within themselves, had a very strong second half and just raced extremely well. The goal was to get to the finals and they did that."

The Varsity 4 raced Central Oklahoma stroke-for-stroke in the second hat, but fell short by a few seats to finish in 7:51.865 compared to UCO's winning time of 7:49.045. The Vikings will now race Mercyhurst in tomorrow's repechage at 10:48 am. Barry won the first heat to advance to the Grand Final Sunday.

"I am very proud of the way they (the V4) raced," added Fuchs. "They raced hard and gave it everything they had. They'll get a chance tomorrow and they will be ready."

This is the 15th time in the last 16 seasons the WWU rowing program will compete for a NCAA II National Championship. The Vikings won seven consecutive national championships from 2005-2011, a feat unmatched by any NCAA program in any sport.

NCAA Division II Rowing Championships - Official Results:

Varsity 8 (Heat 1):

1. Barry - 6:59.001
2. Humboldt State - 7:05.658
3. Nova Southeastern - 7:14.879

Varsity 8 (Heat 2):

1. Western Washington - 6:54.679
2. Central Oklahoma - 7:00.323
3. Mercyhurst - 7:19.815

Varsity 4 (Heat 1):

1. Barry - 7:46.597
2. Mercyhurst - 8:12.603

Varsity 4 (Heat 2):

1. Central Oklahoma - 7:49.045
2. Western Washington - 7:51.865

WWU Lineups:
Varsity 8: Rachel Dalthorp (Fr., Olympia, WA) - Cox; Emily Bartlett (Jr., Broadlands, VA); Katya Hewitt (Jr., Bellingham, WA); Nicole Vanderzanden (Jr., Vancouver, WA); Mary Harper (So., Seattle, WA); Chloe Burns (So., Kirkland, WA); Kia Parrish-Haim (Jr., Ashland, OR); Karisa Stapp (So., Bellingham, WA); Trisha Patterson (So., Camas, WA)

Varsity 4: Paige Rosson (Jr., Anacortes, WA) - Cox; Hannah Benson (So., Woodinville, WA); Ana Jager (Fr., Anchorage, AK); Molly Ware (Jr., Olympia, WA); Alexa Thompson (Sr., Edmonds, WA)