Rowing | WWU women complete three-peat

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Western Washington became the first school in any division to win three straight NCAA national rowing titles, taking top honors Sunday at the NCAA Division II women's championships on Melton Hill Lake.

The Vikings won both the varsity four and eight grand finals to claim the national title.

"These kids are just amazing," said Western coach John Fuchs. "With everybody coming up in the field, they just seem to find a little bit more. They seem to find what it takes to be the best."

Western finished with 20 points to 15 for runner-up UC San Diego.

The Vikings eight won by nearly two boat-lengths, navigating the 2,000-meter course in 7 minutes, 3.80 seconds. Western's four also won by nearly two boat-lengths with a winning time of 8:08.72.

Seattle Pacific won the varsity eight petite final in 7:24.93.

Huskies are 10th

Washington finished 10th in the NCAA Division I championships on Melton Hill Lake.

The varsity four finished fifth in the grand finals in 7:53.75, and the junior-varsity boat was sixth in the grand final in 7:11.29.

The varsity eight placed third in the "C" final and 15th overall.

Brown won its fifth overall title despite not winning a race.

From sports-information reports

NCAA Division I Women's National Championships

At Oak Ridge, Tenn.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

1, Brown, 58; 2, Virginia, 54; 3, Ohio State, 52; 4, Yale, 51; 5, USC, 48; 6, Minnesota, 47; 7, California, 38; 8, Princeton, 34; 9, Tennessee, 29; 10, Washington, 25; 11, Harvard, 19; 12, Notre Dame, 13.

VARSITY EIGHTS

C final (Places 13-16) — 1, California 6:47.40; 2, UCLA 6:51.55; 3, Washington 6:52.94; 4, Central Florida 7:03.18.

SECOND VARSITY EIGHTS

Grand final — 1, Minnesota 6:56.39; 2, California 6:59.15; 3, Brown 6:59.71; 4, Virginia 7:01.52; 5, Ohio State 7:08.52; 6, Washington 7:11.29.

VARSITY FOURS

Grand final — 1, Virginia 7:35.03; 2, Brown 7:45.54; 3, California 7:47.87; 4, Princeton 7:50.90; 5, Washington 7:53.75; 6, Yale 7:54.41.

NCAA Division II Women's National Championships

At Oak Ridge, Tenn.

VARSITY EIGHTS

Grand final — 1, Western Washington 7:03.80; 2, UC San Diego 7:09.51; 3, Dowling NY 7:12.93, 4, Nova Southeastern 7:28.30.

VARSITY FOURS

Grand final — 1, Western Washington 8:08.72; 2, UC San Diego 8:14.71; 3, Nova Southeastern FL 8:44.83.