Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
SELECTED! Women’s Rowing Earns First-Ever NCAA Championship Bid
5/19/2026 6:06:00 PM | Women's Rowing
The Lions received an at-large selection; Will race in the NCAAs May 29-31 in Georgia
INDIANAPOLIS — Columbia women's rowing has been selected to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Championship for the first time in program history. The 22-team field was chosen by the NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Committee.
The championship will be held May 29-31 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, with North Georgia and the City of Gainesville serving as hosts.
"This is a great accomplishment for Columbia women's rowing," director of rowing Tom Terhaar said. "The team and coaches have done an excellent job moving this program forward. They've earned this opportunity and everyone at Columbia is proud of their efforts."
The team championship is composed of 22 teams. Ten conferences were awarded automatic qualification, and the remaining 12 slots were filled with at-large selections to complete the championship field. Teams qualifying for the championship are required to field two boats of eight rowers and one boat of four rowers. For the I Eights, II Eights and Fours, all 22 boats will be seeded into four heats.
The 2025-26 Lions features an experienced group. The Lions have seen a steady upward trajectory this season, culminating in a second place finish for the First Varsity Eight at Eastern Sprints. The top crew has bested most of its regular season opponents (Boston College, UConn, Holy Cross, Northeastern, Navy, UMass, Bucknell, URI, Cornell, Temple, Rutgers, Notre Dame, BU, Harvard-Radcliffe, and Dartmouth), while only falling to Brown.
Columbia finished in fourth place in the Varsity Eight Grand Final to headline the Lions' performances Sunday at the Ivy League Championship on the Cooper River.
Columbia's Varsity Eight crew posted a time of 6:20.027 in the Grand Final, finishing behind Princeton, Yale and Brown in one of the regatta's most competitive races. The Lions advanced to the Grand Final after placing second in their Saturday heat with a time of 6:08.985.
The Lions' Second Varsity Eight also turned in a strong showing, taking fourth in the Grand Final in 6:26.742 after qualifying through Saturday's heats with a third place finish.
In the Varsity Four competition, Columbia captured the Petite Final title in 7:35.412 after placing fourth in its heat on Saturday. The Lions also added a fourth place finish in the Varsity Four B Final, crossing in 7:19.618.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia Rowing, follow @CULionsRowing on X and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com
The championship will be held May 29-31 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, with North Georgia and the City of Gainesville serving as hosts.
"This is a great accomplishment for Columbia women's rowing," director of rowing Tom Terhaar said. "The team and coaches have done an excellent job moving this program forward. They've earned this opportunity and everyone at Columbia is proud of their efforts."
The team championship is composed of 22 teams. Ten conferences were awarded automatic qualification, and the remaining 12 slots were filled with at-large selections to complete the championship field. Teams qualifying for the championship are required to field two boats of eight rowers and one boat of four rowers. For the I Eights, II Eights and Fours, all 22 boats will be seeded into four heats.
The 2025-26 Lions features an experienced group. The Lions have seen a steady upward trajectory this season, culminating in a second place finish for the First Varsity Eight at Eastern Sprints. The top crew has bested most of its regular season opponents (Boston College, UConn, Holy Cross, Northeastern, Navy, UMass, Bucknell, URI, Cornell, Temple, Rutgers, Notre Dame, BU, Harvard-Radcliffe, and Dartmouth), while only falling to Brown.
Columbia finished in fourth place in the Varsity Eight Grand Final to headline the Lions' performances Sunday at the Ivy League Championship on the Cooper River.
Columbia's Varsity Eight crew posted a time of 6:20.027 in the Grand Final, finishing behind Princeton, Yale and Brown in one of the regatta's most competitive races. The Lions advanced to the Grand Final after placing second in their Saturday heat with a time of 6:08.985.
The Lions' Second Varsity Eight also turned in a strong showing, taking fourth in the Grand Final in 6:26.742 after qualifying through Saturday's heats with a third place finish.
In the Varsity Four competition, Columbia captured the Petite Final title in 7:35.412 after placing fourth in its heat on Saturday. The Lions also added a fourth place finish in the Varsity Four B Final, crossing in 7:19.618.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia Rowing, follow @CULionsRowing on X and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com
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