SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The NCAA Women''s Rowing Committee formally announced the heat and lane assignments for the opening day of this weekend''s NCAA Women''s Rowing Championships. The eighth-annual regatta, set to take place at the CSUS Aquatic Center in Rancho Cordova, Calif., begins Friday, May 28, and runs through Sunday, May 30.
The top three ranked Div. I varsity eights in the nation (Cal - No. 1; Princeton - No. 2; Ohio State - No. 3) were placed in separate heats to begin Friday''s competition. Ohio State will assume lane three in the first varsity eight heat (8 a.m.), Cal will be in lane three in the next varsity eight heat (8:15 a.m.) and Princeton will race in lane three in the third and final varsity eight heat (8:30 a.m.). Friday''s Div. I action includes the three varsity eight heats, two second varsity eight heats (10 a.m., 10:15 a.m.), two varsity four heats (11 a.m., 11:15 a.m.) and a varsity eight repechage (4 p.m.).
In the Div. II competition, Western Washington and Mercyhurst (tied for first in the nation among Div. II varsity eights) will race in separate heats on Friday. Mercyhurst will face Nova Southeastern in the first varsity eight heat (9:15 a.m.), Western Washington takes on third-ranked Florida Tech in the second heat (9:30 a.m.) and Humboldt State faces Barry University in the third heat (9:45 a.m.). Friday''s Div. II action includes three first varsity eight heats and two varsity four heats (10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m.).
Two heats will be featured in the Div. III varsity eight category, with three of the top five ranked boats in the nation squaring off in the first heat (8:45 a.m.). Ithaca (ranked third), Coast Guard (ranked fourth) and Trinity (ranked fifth) will be among the six-team first heat while top-ranked Smith College will compete in the second heat (9 a.m.). Friday''s Div. III action includes the two varsity eight heats, two varsity eight repechages (4:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m.) and a spares final (4:45 p.m.).
The NCAA Women''s Rowing Championships will feature a total of 18 races taking place on Friday, 12 more on Saturday, and conclude with nine on Sunday. The Div. III champion will be crowned on Saturday at 12:15 p.m., while the Div. I (12:45 p.m.) and Div. II (11:30 a.m.) champions will be determined on Sunday.
Friday''s lane assignments with a complete three-day schedule of the regatta can be accessed by clicking on the link above the story.
