SEATTLE, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's rowing team wrapped up its fall schedule racing a pair of crews in the 40th annual Head of the Lake Regatta in near perfect fall weather on Sunday in Seattle..
WWU, an eight-time NCAA Division II national champion, had a pair of entries in the Women's Collegiate 3V8+, placing 2nd and 3rd in its heat.
"It was a fun and great way to wrap up the fall," said WWU head coach John Fuchs. "Both crews rowed well too."
The three-mile (4,800-meter) head races started in Lake Union, proceeded east through the Montlake Cut and into Lake Washington where the course took a sharp turn back toward Husky Stadium and UW's Conibear Shellhouse.
British Columbia was the leading third varsity crew with a winning time of 18:15.00, with both WWU boats right behind UBC finishing two-three with times of 18:49.93 and 19:18.58. Pacific Lutheran placed fourth (21:17.11), Seattle University fifth (21:50.80) and Seattle Pacific sixth (22:53.14).
Coming off a third-place finish at the 2019 NCAA II Championships, the Vikings are scheduled to begin the 2020 season on March 7 at the PLU Invitational on American Lake in Lakewood. For the first time in recent history, Western is tentatively scheduled to host two regattas on Lake Samish, March 28 vs. UC San Diego and April 11 vs. the Stanford Lightweights. The complete season schedule and team roster can be found online at WWUVikings.com/RowViks.
BOAT LINEUPS FOR HEAD OF THE LAKE
The following were the boat lineups for the Vikings. Head races are time trials, processional events that start with boats in a single-file line with a rolling start at intervals of 10 or 20 seconds. Passing is allowed and the order of finish is determined by each crews' elapsed time from start to finish.
More information on the 202 WWU Rowing season, including a details schedule, roster and quick facts can be found online at WWUVikings.com/RowViks and via social media on Twitter (@WWU_Rowing), Instagram (@wwuwomensrowing) and Facebook (@WWURowing).
Led by 22nd-year head coach John Fuchs, WWU Rowing has become one of the elite collegiate rowing programs in the country, having won eight NCAA Division II National Championships. The Vikings won the 2017 NCAA II title, placed 2nd in 2018 and 3rd in 2019. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 18 of the last 19 seasons, taking home the gold (8 times) or silver (4 times) medal 12 times in the 18 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011. In 17 trips to the NCAA Rowing Championships dating back to 2002, WWU has had its Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ reach the grand finals every time.
