Saturday, May 18, 2024
by Evan O'Kelly, Assistant Commissioner For Communications

GOLD RIVER, Calif. – A win in the varsity 8+ and a third-place finish in the varsity 4+ on Saturday afternoon at Lake Natoma was enough to give Western Washington its second women’s rowing title at the 2024 GNAC Women’s Rowing Championships.

The nationally-second ranked Vikings totaled 26 points at the regatta, with 18 coming in the varsity 8+ win and eight more with their bronze medal in the varsity 4+ race. No. 5 Cal Poly Humboldt finished second in the team standings with 22 points, as the Lumberjacks took third in the varsity 8+ race and second in the varsity 4+ race. Reigning GNAC champion Central Oklahoma and Seattle Pacific each totaled 21 points, with the Bronchos winning the tiebreaker in the team standings by virtue of their runner-up finish in the varsity 8+ race.

The GNAC title marks the second for the Vikings, who claimed their first crown in 2022. UCO has won the other two GNAC titles since the inaugural event in the spring of 2021.

Seattle Pacific brought home the gold medal in the varsity 4+, edging No. 1 Cal Poly Humboldt by 3.35 seconds. The Falcons crossed the finish line with a time of 8:09.720, as they held off the Lumberjacks and their time of 8:13.070. SPU’s winning lineup featured coxswain Aleksia Haugen along with Emmerson Spencer, Anna Boatman, Amelia Pape and Hannah Miller. Western Washington took third place with a time of 8:18.430, and Central Oklahoma finished fourth in 8:18.730 just behind the Vikings’ boat.

The Vikings took home gold in the varsity 8+, clocking a time of 7:03.090 for a 7.39-second victory over second place Central Oklahoma. The Vikings were piloted by coxswain Janisa Cook and featured stroke Mia Marie Knipe, bow Reed Chesnek and rowers Emma Clark, Madddie Kidd, Sarah Plemons, Taylor Wall, Jenna Buckholt and Kate Baring. The Bronchos finished in 7:10.480 to take silver, while Cal Poly Humboldt followed in third place with a time of 7:13.990. The Falcons crossed the finish line in 7:15.020 to round out the regatta.

Western Washington also won the varsity 4+ exhibition final on Saturday, clocking a time of 8:23.310 which was good for a victory margin of 11.58 seconds. Central Oklahoma placed second in the exhibition race in 8:34.890, Seattle Pacific took third in 8:44.880 and Cal Poly Humboldt finished fourth in 9:00.240. WWU’s open lineup was comprised of coxswain Malea Moy and rowers Lindsey Froelich, Alexis Clark, Kristina DeKoster and Linnea Olix.