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.

ROW | A few photos of the @WWU_Rowing Varsity 8+ from the opening day of the 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships in Indianapolis. 

📸 Justin Casterline pic.twitter.com/RAzzVX3cKn
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) June 1, 2019

The @WWU_Rowing V8+ is on the race course matching up against UC San Diego and Florida Tech. 

Watch Live:
💻 https://t.co/an1q0BEoYQ 
📈 https://t.co/RAi28phkaZ #RowViks pic.twitter.com/VhH2wFJaoP
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) May 31, 2019

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).

 

Here is a look at the results from the Division II heats that raced Friday during the first day of the 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships. The winner of each heat advances directly to Sunday's Grand Final, while all other crews will be back in action Saturday in the repechage. The top two finishers in each repechage will then advance to the four-boat Grand Final on Sunday.

 

 

Here is a look at boat lineups that raced Friday for WWU at the first day of the 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships:

                                                                                                    

The 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships features teams competing for the NCAA I, II and III national championships this weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana. All three days of the regatta will stream live on NCAA.com and feature live timing updates. Here are some handy links on how to follow the Vikings at the NCAA Rowing Championships:

»       Live Webcast via NCAA.com

»       Live Results

»       Heat Sheets with Lineups

»       Championships Program

»       Regatta Information

»       NCAA II Rowing Homepage

»       CRCA/US Rowing National Coaches Poll

A question is often asked on how the national championships is scored at the NCAA II Rowing Championships. Below is the breakdown of how points are awarded with the highest total after Sunday's racing crowned the national champion:

 

 

Here is a look at the national champion and runner-up from each of the 17 years that the NCAA Division II has crowned a national title dating back to 2002:

 

 

More information on the 2019 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 21^st-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 and placed 2nd in 2018, and have competed in the NCAA Championships in 17 of the last 18 seasons (2019 makes it 28 of 19). 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. Western won 7 consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011, and placed among the top three nationally each season from 2002 to 2014 with the Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ reaching the grand finals every time during this stretch.