The Seattle Times Women's Trophy Women's 8+ Winner - Class 2029
Boat: King SE 8+ | Photography: Redbox Pictures)

On March 21, 2026, the historic Montlake Cut once again played host to the season-opening Class Day Regatta—an event that has defined the start of spring racing for over a century. This year, the spotlight belonged to the freshman women of Washington Rowing—and the shell beneath them.

Rowing in (Jenni Hogan) a King SE 8+, the Class of 2029 delivered a statement performance in the Women’s 8+, capturing The Seattle Times Women’s Trophy in dominant fashion and marking a historic return to the top for a freshman crew.

A Breakthrough Moment—36 Years in the Making

The victory carried real weight.

Washington’s freshman women didn’t just win—they became the first freshman crew to claim the Class Day women’s title since 1990, ending a 36-year gap and writing their own place in program history and only the second time ever winning the event.

From the opening strokes, they set the tone. By the 500-meter mark, the freshmen had already taken control of the race, establishing clear water over the field. When the senior crew mounted a challenge in the second half, the freshmen responded with composure—holding their speed and crossing the line 2.4 seconds ahead to secure the win. 

Their final time of 6:15.124 placed them among the fastest crews ever to race the Montlake Cut, further underscoring the quality of the performance. 

The Seattle Times Women's Trophy Women's 8+ Winner - Class 2029
Boat: King SE 8+ | Photography: Redbox Pictures)

Composure, Connection, and Class Identity

What stood out most wasn’t just the margin—it was how the race was won.

As Head Coach Yasmin Farooq noted, the freshmen “won the start straight up” and then “stuck together to fight off every attack”—a combination of raw ability and collective resilience. (University of Washington Athletics)

That cohesion is rare in a first-year crew. It speaks to:

• Trust built early in the season

• Technical alignment across all eight athletes

• A shared competitive mindset

And when paired with elite equipment, it becomes a powerful formula.

A Statement for the Season—and the Future

Class Day is more than a race—it’s a preview.

For Washington, the Class of 2029 showed they are not just developing—they are already delivering at a high level. And for King Racing Shells, this result reinforces what top programs already know: when performance matters most, details matter.

From hull design to race-day execution, everything aligned on March 21.

A historic win.
A rising crew.
And a shell built to make it happen.