OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – With some eye-opening times, thanks in part to fast currents on Melton Hill Lake, the No. 15 Wisconsin women's rowing team opened its 2019 season with four victories on day one of the Cardinal Invite on Saturday.
 
The Badgers claimed victories in both varsity eight races in times that are among the fastest in rowing history, including one about 24 seconds faster than the official World Fastest Time held by the U.S. women's national team eight from a race at the 2013 World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland.
 
The UW varsity eight clocked a 5:41.722 to beat No. 16 Indiana by over two seconds, as well as Tulsa in the morning session, then reached the 2000-meter finish line in 5:30.802 in the afternoon to defeat Notre Dame and Clemson by nearly seven seconds and 12 seconds, respectively.
 
The world's fastest time is 5:54.16 by a U.S. women's eight that included former Badger rower Vicky Opitz.
 
UW's second varsity eight won its races by just over a second and over five seconds against the same opponents.
 
Racing continues Sunday for the Badgers when they take on No. 7 Yale and No. 20 Minnesota.
 
For results this weekend at the Cardinal Invite, click here. 
 
Straight from the Lake
Head coach Bebe Bryans
On morning racing
"I was really pretty happy with what I saw out there from both of our eights. Having just hopped on the water, they executed pretty well. I didn't expect a lot of great execution, but they really went after it. They raced hard. We now know a lot more than we did yesterday. They definitely have stuff to work on so it served its purpose perfectly. We also did break the world record for the fastest women's eight time ever rowed in history. That I know of, anyway, The current was helping us along quite a bit. It is very fast, so that was kind of fun. Challenging… it is different when there is that much current and they did a good job of handling it. Off to a good start.
 
On the afternoon
"The temperature warmed up a little bit and the wind calmed down a little bit. It was really nice racing conditions. Still really fast current, which is challenging for the coxswains, but everyone did a really good job and that made it fair and fun.

"Both boats improved upon their performance from this morning. They were able to keep what was good and improve on some other stuff. Definitely a good day of racing for us and something that we struggled to do in the past."
 
Looking ahead to Sunday
"Really pleased and looking forward to putting it together even a little bit more tomorrow against Minnesota and Yale. Should be a great morning, then we'll get down to the business of spring training and see how many miles we can get in. Racing first and miles second, why not? This is Wisco, that's the way we roll."
  
Cardinal Invite
Melton Hill Lake
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
March 16, 2019
2000 meters
 
Varsity Eight
PM
1. Wisconsin, 5:30.802; 2. Notre Dame, 5:37.608; 3. Clemson, 5:40.734
 
AM
1. Wisconsin, 5:41.772; 2. Indiana, 5:43.911; 3. Tulsa, 5:56.580
 UW Lineup – Coxswain Saylor Martin, Allie Lohrenz, Renee Olley, Isa Darvin, Sarah Gibbons, Lauren O'Connor, Katherine Grose, Alicia Evans, Eliza Clifford
 
Second Varsity Eight
PM
1. Wisconsin, 5:42.965; 2. Notre Dame, 5:47.777; 3. Clemson, 5:54.864
 
AM
1. Wisconsin, 5:53.724; 2. Indiana, 5:54.826; 3. Tulsa, 6:02.897
 UW Lineup – Coxswain Emma Smith, Elisabet Pietz, Rebekah Armstrong, Samantha Harris, Taylor Caudle, Carissa Witthuhn, Becca Kite, Grace Joyce, Makayla Stow