GOLD RIVER, Calif. – UW women's crew had a great showing at the Head of the American regatta, taking first and third in the women's collegiate eights and finishing eight pairs in the top 13 of the women's collegiate pairs.

“It was a really great day, these kids were on fire,” UW head coach Bob Ernst said. “This was about as good as we could've hoped for. The athletes had to work so hard to get here, so most of the value was accomplished before we even got on the plane.”

The Huskies won the women's collegiate eight and placed two boats in the top three of an event with 25 entries. UW started 15 seconds behind Stanford and rowed through the Cardinal and into open water in front of the grand stands. Of the 18 student-athletes in the two eights, five were freshman. Unofficially, 2015 Pac-12 Champion Cal finished in second place between the two Husky eights. 

“We're in a great position going forward,” Ernst said. “Our rowers are really working hard and it is showing from top to bottom.”

The Huskies started the day in the women's collegiate pairs, where the UW's top pair placed third. Five UW pairs placed in the top eight, and eight finished in the top 13 in an event with a total of 39 entries.

The results are especially encouraging considering the quality of competition at the Head of the American, as four of the top five Pac-12 women's crews were in attendance.

UW women's crew will host the Head of the Lake on Nov. 8 on the Montlake Cut in the Huskies' only other competition this fall.

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