VICTORIA - The University of Victoria women's rowing team claimed 12 podium finishes at the Western Canadian University Rowing Championships, Oct. 8, in its season-opening regatta on Elk Lake.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Vikes took first place in the 8+ race, with the crew of Sofie Hof, Danae McCulloch, Nicole Cusack, Abby Speirs, Margaret Hemphil, Danica Ariano, Mikaela Holthius, Kaliya Javra, and Noa Hardcastle winning the gold medal.
• Also winning gold was the 2- pair of Abby Spiers and Maggie Hemphill, who took the top spot with their 7:29.52 performance.
• Zoe Crookshank, Sophie Regosa, Genevieve Olson, Charise Faubert and Abigail Simpson posted a time of 7:22.0 in the lightweight 4+ to take second place.
• Earning a trio of silver medals in the 1x events were Hardcastle (8:13.95) in the 1x, Ella Stemler (7:45.16) in the JV 1x, and Charise Faubert (7:57.94) in the lightweight 1x.
• Olsen and Regosa added a silver medal in the lightweight 2x event with a time of 7:32.23.
• In all, the Vikes finished with 12 podium finishes in eight final events.

UP NEXT
The Vikes remain in Victoria to race at the Head and Tail of the Gorge, Oct. 22-23.

RESULTS
Women Lightweight 4+ - A Final
2. Victoria (Crookshank) - 7:22.0
 
Women 1x – A Final
2. Victoria (N. Hardcastle) – 8:13.95
3. Victoria (D. McCulloch) – 8:25.9
 
Women JV 1x – A Final
2. Victoria (E. Stemler) – 8:38.54
5. Victoria (M. Butterfield) - 8:44.82
 
Women JV 1x – B Final
3. Victoria (S. Meldrum) – 9:42.74
 
Women JV 1x – Time Trials
2. Victoria (M. Butterfield) – 7:44.53
3. Victoria (E. Stemler) - 7:45.16
9. Victoria (S. Meldrum) - 8:31.41
 
Women Lightweight 1x – A Final
2. Victoria (C. Faubert) – 7:57.94
3. Victoria (P. Letham) – 7:58.39
 
Women JV 2- - A Final
3. Victoria (H. Peterson) – 8:03.73
5. Victoria (E. Nieuwesteeg) – 8:14.79
6. Victoria (L. Langtry) – 8:15.2
 
Women Lightweight 2x – A Final
2. Victoria (G. Olsen) – 7:32.23
3. Victoria (A. Simpson) – 7:34.34
 
Women 2- - A Final
1. Victoria (A. Speirs) – 7:29.52
4. Victoria (M. Holthius) – 7:40.45
5. Victoria (K. Javra) – 7:41.85
 
Women 8 + - A Final
1. Victoria (S. Hof) – 0.00**
4. Victoria (Z. Crookshank) – +0:26.58
5. Victoria (S. Green) – +0:41.47
** Full times were not available on Regatta Data at time of posting. They will be updated once available.