Women's Rowing 5/27/2022 1:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Second In NCAA Prelims

SARASOTA, Fla. – Central Oklahoma finished second in each of its first two heat races Friday at the NCAA Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. The Bronchos will return Friday evening for a pair of repechage races with a shot at the Grand Final on the line.

"We raced well today, but we weren't the best," UCO head rowing coach Brian Ebke said. "The races were really fast and we put up some good times but it wasn't enough. We need to reset and come back tonight ready to do better."

Central Oklahoma's Varsity 8+ was in the first heat against Mercyhurst (Pa.) and Seattle Pacific. The Bronchos held an early lead after 500 meters but Mercyhurst prevailed three seconds in front of UCO by the end of the 2k track. Central crossed the finish line in 6:40.39.

Central Oklahoma's Varsity 4+ raced in the second heat, also against Mercyhurst, as well as Western Washington. The Bronchos made a push around the 500-meter mark and took the lead for a good portion of the race, but again took second Mercyhurst by the end of the course. UCO finished in 7:34.87.

The Broncho eights posted the third-best time of the day across both heats while the fours had the second-best mark.

UCO will race in the Eights repechage at 5:24 p.m. (Eastern) against Western Washington (6:42.89), Seattle Pacific (6:44.25) and Embry-Riddle (7:13.44).

UCO will race in the Fours repechage at 5:36 p.m. against Seattle Pacific (7:52.78), Western Washington (8:06.40) and Thomas Jefferson (8:11.29).

The top two teams in each race will move to Saturday's Grand Finals to decide the national champion – and top four placers. Mercyhurst has two boats waiting. Jefferson won the second heat in the eights and Embry-Riddle won the first heat in the fours and those two boats earned Friday night off ahead of Saturday's finals.

The bottom two boats in each race will move to Saturday's Petite Finals, where the two will race head-to-head for fifth-place.

Friday's Results
Varsity 8+
Heat 1
1. Mercyhurst, 6:37.14
2. Central Oklahoma, 6:40.39
3. Seattle Pacific, 6:44.25
Heat 2
1. Thomas Jefferson, 6:38.67
2. Western Washington, 6:42.89
3. Embry-Riddle, 7:13.44
Varsity 4+
Heat 1
1. Embry-Riddle, 7:37.27
2. Seattle Pacific, 7:52.78
3. Thomas Jefferson, 8:11.29
Heat 2
1. Mercyhurst, 7:32.22
2. Central Oklahoma, 7:34.87
3. Western Washington, 8:06.40

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