INDIANAPOLIS – The Marist women's crew team opened a new chapter in the program's history books on Friday, completing its first races in NCAA Championships competition. The Red Foxes raced in the opening heats and Repechage races on the first day of the 2013 NCAA Rowing Championships at Eagle Creek Park.

All of the teams had to endure several time changes as weather wreaked havoc during the morning session. Originally told the races were moved up 90 minutes, lightning delayed the start of the Championships from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Marist finally got on the water at 9 a.m., racing in the third head of the Division I Varsity Eights against boats from Navy, Notre Dame, Ohio State, California and Cornell. Ohio State, the third overall seed in the championships, took first place in a time of 6:55.383. The Red Foxes finished in sixth place, crossing the finish line in 7:55.834.

In the Repechage race in the afternoon session Marist again faced stiff competition. The Red Foxes were up against squads from Gonzaga, Stanford, Notre Dame, Yale, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Stanford, the overall #10 seed, took the top spot in a time of 7:05.096 while the Red Foxes finished seventh in a time of 8:05.251.

The Second Varsity Eight squad also faced a tough challenge in its opening heat. The Red Foxes rowed against Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Southern California, Princeton and Oklahoma. Southern California, the overall seed, won the heat in 6:56.304 while Marist crossed the finish line at 8:16.541

Their Repechage race again featured a stacked lineup as Marist was up against Washington State, Cornell, Notre Dame, Yale, Wisconsin and Rhode Island. Yale took the heat in 7:22.958 while Marist finished seventh in 8:50.464.

The Varsity Four boat for Marist had similar troubles, going against the likes of Boston University, Virginia, Brown, Yale and Harvard in its opening heat. Virginia took the heat in heat in 8:02.087 while Marist finished just over a minute behind in sixth place, crossing the finish line in 9:06.036.

The Red Foxes went against Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Brown, UCLA, Princeton and Navy in their Repechage race in the afternoon session. Princeton, the seventh ranked four boat overall, won the race in 7:59.415 while Marist took seventh in 8:56.098.

The Championships will continue Saturday morning with the semifinal races. All three Marist boats will be in the C/D semifinals, meaning they are out of qualification for the Grand and Petite finals on Sunday. The Red Foxes Varsity Eight boat will open the day at 8:30 a.m. in the first race of the day. The Second Varsity Eight will take to the waters at 9:10 a.m. in their own C/D semifinal. The Varsity Four will wrap up the day at 9:50 a.m.

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