CHERRY HILL, NJ – The Seattle Pacific University women's rowing team charged hard during the preliminary heats of the NCAA National Championships on the Cooper River on Friday, with both the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ boats taking a spot in the Grand Finals on Saturday.
"The team showed incredible grit and resilience today in both the 8+ and 4+," head coach Caitlin McClain said. "We raced hard in the heats but unfortunately weren't able to secure the direct progression to the grand final. We were able to bounce back from that disappointment and get the job done in the repechage (second chance) with a win in the 8+ and a gritty four-boat fight in the 4+ for the two spots."
Both the Varsity 8+ and the Varsity 4+ had to compete in the repechage to make their way into Saturday's grand finals. The V8+ shell lined up against Embry Riddle, Jefferson, and Western Washington. The Falcons emerged as grand final worthy. The team won the heat with a time of 7:15.149. SPU won the race by 2.970.
The V4+ repechage was next, as SPU lined up against WWU, Jefferson, and Embry Riddle. The Falcons found themselves locked in a competitive race with the Vikings. It came down to the final few meters, but the Vikings took the race with an 8:01.496. The Falcons earned the final spot in the grand final with a time of 8:03.672.
The V4+ shell is a rematch of the ultra-competitive Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. The Falcons take on Central Oklahoma, Cal Poly Humboldt, and Western Washington in the grand finals. The race starts at 8:12 a.m. PST.
The V8+ should be another awesome race for the Falcons. They'll again take on the Bronchos and the Lumberjacks, as the GNAC members are joined by Embry Riddle in the grand finals. That race happens at 9 a.m. PST.
"In 2022 the 4+ made it to the grand final, but not the 8+," McClain added. "Having both make it this year is a huge accomplishment and testimony to the student-athletes' hard work and commitment to their goals. We are so proud of them!"
Both the V8+ and V4+ shells compete for national championships tomorrow morning in New Jersey.
LINEUPS
Varsity 8+ C: Moxie McCandless, 8: Jacinta Grandel, 8: Natalie Korolenko, 6: Audrey Rekedal, 5: Kalais Samuelson, 4: Elise Cornwell, 3: Ixchel Watson, 2: Macie Leach, 1: Hannah Miller
Varsity 4+ C: Lucy Sandahl, 4: Megan Popielak, 3: Anna Boatman, 2: Megan Rouse, 1: Sophie Sandahl
Spares: Gem Gatmaytan, Bella Lisenby
