INDIANAPOLIS – The Grand Finals are set for the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships, and both of Western Washington's crews will race for the national title on Sunday. 

 

The WWU four used a strong start and then held off a late charge by Seattle Pacific to win the repechage during the second day of the 2019 NCAA Division II Rowing Championships on Saturday at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park. 

 

The Vikings battled a stiff headwind, finishing the 2,000-meter course in 8:15.263, over a second faster than second-place SPU. Both the Vikings and the Falcons advance to Sunday's Grand Final, where they will match up against Central Oklahoma and Florida Tech with the national title on the line.

 

WWU was propelled to victory behind a strong start, creating space between SPU and third-place UC San Diego over the first 1,000 meters. The Falcons surged over the final 750 meters, but the Vikings held off the charge with a strong finish to close out the victory. UCSD and Jefferson will race for the 5^thand 6^th-place spots in the petite final for the four on Sunday.

 

The WWU varsity eight had Saturday off after winning Friday's second heat to advance directly to the Grand Final. The Vikings will go head-to-head against Central Oklahoma (winner of Friday's first heat), Florida Tech and Seattle Pacific. Florida Tech and SPU finished first and second in Saturday's repechage to advance to the Grand Final.

 

The 2019 NCAA Division II National Champion will be determined via a point system based off finish, with the winner of the eight receiving 18 points and the four 12 points (full chart of points listed below). Central Oklahoma is the defending national champion with WWU finishing runner-up in 2018, a year after the Vikings claimed the program's eighth national title in 2017.

 

Racing on Sunday is scheduled to start at 6:24 am PT/9:24 am ET with the Division II Fours Petite Final. WWU crews will be in action at 6:36 am PT/9:36 am ET in the Fours Grand Final and at 7 am PT/10 am ET with the Eights Grand Final. Both races will be streamed live on NCAA.com, with the same four teams (WWU, Central Oklahoma, Florida Tech, Seattle Pacific) making up the four-boat fields for the four and eight Grand Finals.

 

Here is a look at the results from the Division II fours repechage that raced Saturday morning during the second day of the 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships. The top two finishers, WWU and Seattle Pacific, advanced to Sunday's Grand Final where they will row against Central Oklahoma and Florida Tech for the national title.

 

 

The schedule for the final day of the 2019 NCAA Division II Rowing Championships includes four races, with the Petite and Grand Final in the fours starting at 6:24 am PT/9:24 am ET and the eights at 6:48 am PT/9:48 am ET. WWU will race in the Grand Final in each event, aiming for a ninth national championship. The WWU Varsity 4+ will be in action at 6:36 am PT/9:36 am ET and the Varsity 8+ is scheduled to race at 7 am PT/10 am ET. 

 

 

In the 17 seasons that the Vikings have competed at the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships – out of 18 possible seasons – WWU has had both of its boats reach the Grand Final in every event. 

 

The Vikings are competing in the NCAA Rowing Championships for the 18^th time in the last 19 seasons, and the 17^th time in the 18 seasons that an NCAA Division II champion has been crowned (since 2002). 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 boat lineup for the four that raced Saturday at the second day of the NCAA Rowing Championships:

                                                                                                    

 

For the second consecutive day, the start of the championships was delayed due to race course conditions, but the wait was far less than the seven-hour delay on Friday. WWU was scheduled to race at 10:48 am ET/7:48 am PT, but was pushed back two hours with a 12:50 pm ET/9:50 am PT start.

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

»       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.