WORCESTER, Mass. – Highlighted by opening heat victories from the Second Varsity Eight (2V8+) and Third Varsity Eight (3v8+), Wellesley College crew competed in the 2018 National Invitational Rowing Championships throughout the day on Friday on Lake Quinsigamond.

The Blue Crew Varsity Eight (V8+) finished fourth in the petite final to take tenth overall in the Women's Varsity Eight event. Wellesley was third, trailing first place Ithaca (6:31.103) and second place Tufts (6:33.507), in the team's opening heat to narrowly miss the grand final with a time of 6:35.867. The Blue went on to record a time of 6:40.486 in the petite final, finishing over three second back of first place Hamilton (6:37.043).

Wellesley topped Tufts by over five seconds in the third heat of the 2V8+ competition. The Blue finished in 6:50.775, advancing, along with Tufts (6:55.881), to the grand final. The 2V8+ went on to collect fourth place overall, as runner-up Williams (6:48.358), third place Wesleyan (6:49.896) and the Blue (6:51.518) all finished within four seconds of each other. However, Bates went on to take an open water victory with a time of 6:41.057.

The Blue 3V8+ posted the third fastest time in opening heats to advance to the 3V8+ Grand Final with a time of 7:01.949. Wellesley was first in their heat, leading runner-up Wesleyan (Conn.) (7:05.161) and third place Ithaca (7:12.953). Wesleyan went on to take third (7:03.886) in the grand final behind Bates (6:85.926) and Williams (7:01.906), but the Blue dropped back to sixth with a time of 7:22.559.

In a pair of grand finals, the Varsity Four and Fourth Varsity Eight (4V8+) finished in second and fourth, respectively. The Varsity four finished in 8:15.289 to take runner-up honors behind Bates (8:09.099), while the 4V8+ recorded a time of 7:13.656).

Wellesley returns to action in two weeks at the 2018 NCAA Division III Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Fla. Wellesley will be make the program's ninth straight appearance at the event.