Two-time national runner-up Western Washington captured its first NCAA Division II Women's Rowing Championship May 29 at the CSUS Aquatic Center in Sacramento, California.

Western Washington, making its fourth appearance in the national regatta, placed second in 2002 and 2003. The Vikings were 600 meters from earning the team title last year but settled for third when the boat caught a crab -- a rowing term used when an oar gets stuck in the water during the recovery portion of a stroke -- and the boat was forced to come to a complete stop before resuming the race.

This year, powered by four rowers appearing in their third championship, Western Washington swept the Fours and Eights finals to compile 20 points and eclipse second-place finisher and defending-champion Mercyhurst, which scored 12 points. Western Washington's eight-point win was the largest margin of victory since the Division II national championship was established in 2002. Nova Southeastern and Florida Tech finished third and fourth, respectively, in the final team results.

In the Eights final, the Vikings posted a winning time of 6:48.72. Western Washington held a boat-length lead with about 1,000 meters left in the race and withstood a brief challenge from Nova Southeastern, which finished second with a time of 6:55.91. Mercyhurst and Barry were third and fourth, respectively.

Western Washington also dominated the field in the Varsity Four race. The Vikings held a two-boat length lead after the first 500 meters and won by nearly six boat lengths.

"We've been the bridesmaids for way too long, and to be able to finally break through is a great feeling," said John Fuchs, head coach at Western Washington. "You can't ask for anything more than what our teams did on the water today. They have performed well all season and to come here and peak and perform to perfection -- hats off to them."

UC San Diego overtook Florida Tech in the Eights petite final with a time of 7:02.24. Florida Tech completed the course in 7:05.68.

Team results

1. Western Wash., 20; 2. Mercyhurst, 12; 3. Nova Southeastern, 11; 4. Florida Tech, 7.

Event results

Fours: Final -- 1. Western Wash. [Elisabeth Johnson (coxswain), Jordon Tobler, Tanya Kaufman, Samantha Marikis, Courtney Moeller], 7:46.82; 2. Mercyhurst, 8:07.78; 3. Florida Tech, 8:09.34.

Eights: Petite final -- 1. UC San Diego [Arianna Pilram (coxswain), Dannan Hodge, Christine King, Vanessa Jansen, Leah Llach, Cara Kuebert, Sarah Smolley, Meghan Kelly, Anne Roddy], 7:02.24; 2. Florida Tech, 7:05.68.

Eights: Grand final -- 1. Western Wash. [Krissy Whaley (coxswain), Stephanie Parker, Amelia Whitcomb, Gail Lumsden, Metta Gilbert, Kailyn McGrath, Lindsay Mann-King, Staci Reynolds, Julia Gamache], 6:48.72; 2. Nova Southeastern, 6:55.91; Mercyhurst, 6:59.92; Barry, 7:07.35.