GEORGE WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL ‘26
April 11th, 2026 - Washington D.C.
Washington State University’s Cougar Crew traveled to the nation's capital this past weekend for its third consecutive appearance at the George Washington Invitational, fielding boats in the Varsity 8, Second Varsity 8, and Novice 8.
The Cougars faced a deep, competitive field including Michigan, Bucknell, host George Washington, and 2025 ACRA National Champion Virginia. Teams battled through choppy early-morning water and heavy river traffic that steadily improved as racing progressed.
WSU opened the day with a statement in the Varsity 8, winning its morning heat in 5:57.94 by controlling the pace against Michigan and GW. The 2V followed with one of the team’s strongest performances, finishing a tight second to Michigan (5:59.48) and holding off GW. The Novice 8 placed third in their opening heat against Virginia and Bucknell, crossing in 6:19.00.
In the afternoon session, the Varsity 8 returned for a faster heat but suffered a technical failure in the final 500 meters, finishing third (6:02.38) behind Bucknell and Virginia. The 2V also raced the same two programs, taking third (6:01.46) to show consistency across multiple pieces. Rebounding strongly to close out the regatta, the Novice 8 secured second place behind Michigan (6:05.05), outpacing North Carolina.
Across all boats, Washington State demonstrated speed and composure against one of the deepest fields it has faced this season. With a V8 heat win and multiple tight finishes, the Cougars continue to build crucial momentum heading into the heart of the spring schedule.
“Racing on a great course against strong East Coast crews was a solid test for us. We got a better sense of where we are and what still needs work. I’m especially proud of the 2V, which kept improving throughout the weekend and put together some really good pieces by the end.”
“It was incredibly valuable to gain race experience in tight heats against top-tier programs. We proved that we have serious boat speed, and I’m excited to keep fine-tuning our execution to find another gear as we prepare for WIRA’s”
After testing the speed against some of the top programs in the nation on the East Coast, Washington State returns to the Pacific Northwest with valuable race experience and clear areas for refinement. The team will now resume their training block in Pullman, looking to build on this weekend's momentum and dial in their execution as they set their sights on the WIRA Championships in the following weeks.
Results here!