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PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women’s rowing team concluded the fall schedule by competing at the Portland Fall Classic, which took place on Sunday morning on the Willamette River in downtown Portland. The Pilots raced five boats at the Fall Classic, which was a head race format covering a 5000 meter course.
 
Portland’s first eight was the first UP boat to launch, and the Pilots posted a time of 17:56.91, which was third among the collegiate competition. Only Washington State and Oregon State registered faster times, while Gonzaga finished less than a second behind the Pilots.
 
Portland’s second boat then covered the course in a time of 18:33.91, again finishing ahead of Gonzaga. Washington State’s second eight had a time of 17:24.54, which was tops among the collegiate boats.
 
The Pilots also raced a second four (23:14.62) and two novice eights, which posted times of 20:25.27 and 21:44.01. Portland’s first novice eight finished second among the collegiate novice eights, and Gonzaga posted the fastest time of 20:24.66.
 
“I felt the team performed very well, and it was nice to see all the hard work and training that they’ve put in resulted in some pretty fast boats,” Portland head coach Bill Zack said. “It was a very well-run event, so thanks to Station L and Rose City Rowing Clubs.
 
“The team is looking forward to putting in some more hard work between now and the start of the spring race season in March.”
 
A head race is a time trial format where crews start one at the time with about 10-15 seconds in between each boat. The starting line of the 5000 meter course was located on the Holgate Channel of the Willamette River behind Ross Island. The course went north and the finish line was near the floating section of the Eastbank Esplanade between the Burnside and Steel Bridges.