WWU ROWING: Vikings advance to finals

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GOLF RIVER, Calif. — Western Washington University’s varsity eight and varsity four shells cruised to impressive victories in their qualifying heats Friday at the seventh annual NCAA Division II Women’s Rowing National Championships being held on Lake Natoma.

The triumphs advance the nationally No. 1-ranked and three-time defending national champion Vikings to Sunday’s grand finals with the four competing at 9:15 a.m. and the eight at 9:45 a.m.

“Their performance was exceptional and fun to watch,” said Western coach John Fuchs, whose charges have received every first-place vote all season long while being ranked No. 1 in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Poll.

“They executed the race plan to a ‘T.’ The coxswains did an absolutely great job and everybody was very focused, so that’s basically all you can ask for … They’re ready for Sunday. I wish that it was tomorrow.”

Western’s eight won its qualifying heat by over four boat lengths. The Vikings completed the 2,000-meter course in 6:54.29 with Dowling (N.Y.) second (7:12.00) and Philadelphia (7:19.34) third.

“We just wanted to row solid,” Fuchs said. “There was no need to tear their way down the course. We just tried to establish a good rhythm and see what was happening with the other crews and then go from there. They did their job and they were happy with their performance.”

Western’s four was victorious by nearly five boat lengths in its qualifying heat, winning by nearly 18 seconds, 7:53.85 to 8:11.29, over second-place UC San Diego. Nova Southeastern was third (8:19.57) and Dowling fourth (8:33.48).

“It was almost identical (to the eight),” said Fuchs. “I thought it might be a little tighter just because of how UC San Diego looked at the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships. They were only three seconds back there.

“Our four has only been together for about a month, so they’ve had a couple of good weeks of training after the PCRC’s and they’ve really improved since then.”

On Sunday, 12 points will be awarded to the first-place eight, nine for second, six for third and three for fourth. The victorious four gets eight points, with six points awarded for second, four for third and two for fourth.