UW Crew | Huskies get invite to national regatta

The University of Washington has received one of 12 berths in the NCAA Division I rowing championships May 25-27 on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The Huskies finished third overall at last Sunday's Pac-10 championships. The UW junior varsity and novice eights were second and the varsity four won its race to offset a sixth-place performance by the varsity eight.

Washington, Brown and Princeton are the only schools to receive invitations each year to the national regatta since women's rowing became an NCAA sport in 1997.

"We are really proud to once again be selected to compete for a national championship," said UW coach Eleanor McElvaine.

Washington won the NCAA title in 1997, 1998 and 2001. The Huskies finished ninth last year.

Pac-10 champion USC and California also were invited for the team competition, which will be decided by points earned in varsity eight, JV eight and varsity four competitions.

The varsity eights of Stanford and UCLA were among boats receiving at-large entries for the varsity eight competition.

Western Washington, the two-time defending NCAA Division II champion, has received an invitation to the Division II regatta that will be held at the same time and place as the Division I and Division III regattas. Competition will be in varsity eights and fours.

Western just won the West Region title for the fourth consecutive year.

Seattle Pacific's varsity eight has earned an at-large berth in the Division II regatta.

The University of Puget Sound earned a berth to the Division III regatta for the fifth consecutive year. Competition will be in two eights.