UW rowers make final

Top-ranked Washington and No. 2 Wisconsin won in respective semifinals on Friday to set up a showdown of unbeatens in the final at the men’s Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Washington’s entire five-boat fleet qualified for today’s finals and four of them did so by winning their semifinal races.

Along with the varsity 8, the Huskies were first across the finish line in the second varsity 8, varsity 4 and freshman 4 events.

The top UW crew extended its winning streak to 18 races.

The varsity 8 won on the 2,000-meter course with a time of 5 minutes, 39.45 seconds, edging California.

The Huskies will face California for the fifth time this season today. The day’s 0.63-second semifinal margin was tighter than any of the three prior encounters.

The Gonzaga men’s freshman 8 won their semifinal at the championships.

The Bulldogs finished in 5:58.98 to defeat Georgetown by 4 seconds, claiming their spot in the third level final today.

The varsity 8 placed fifth in their semifinal and earned a spot in the fourth level final.