ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany women's rowing team is set to make program history this weekend, traveling to the Cooper River in Pennsauken, N.J., for the 2026 CAA Rowing Championship on May 16. This marks the Great Danes' first-ever appearance in the conference championship meet since joining the CAA, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship on the line.
 
Regatta Information
2026 CAA Rowing Championship
Date: May 16 (Heats/Finals) 
Location: Cooper River | Pennsauken, N.J.
Watch: FloCollege
Live Timing: Regatta Timing

Scoring & Stakes Scoring & Stakes: The CAA Championship is decided by a weighted points system across three primary boat classes: the Varsity Eight (V8+), Second Varsity Eight (2V8+), and Varsity Four (V4+). The school with the highest cumulative point total across these events is crowned the CAA Team Champion. The stakes are significant, as the conference champion earns the CAA's automatic qualifier (AQ) berth to the NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Championships, sending its Varsity Eight (1v8+), Second Varsity Eight(2v8+), and Varsity Four (1v4+) directly into the national field.
 
The 2026 NCAA Championship field features 22 teams competing across Eights, Second Eights, and Fours over a 2,000-meter course, with no athlete doubling and no pairs racing permitted. The selection show announcing the field will air Tuesday, May 19 at 5 p.m. ET on NCAA.com. Racing runs May 29–31 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, hosted by Lake Lanier Olympic Park and the University of North Georgia. All races are contested across three days (May 29–31), with teams advancing through a national field that has historically been dominated by programs such as Brown, Texas, Stanford, Washington, and California.
 
Chasing the Streak:
The Great Danes enter a highly competitive field dominated in recent years by Northeastern, which enters the 2026 regatta looking to extend its 11-year winning streak of conference championships. The Huskies remain the undisputed favorites, having recently secured victories in the Council Cup.
 
UAlbany will compete alongside a full field of CAA contenders, including Drexel, the 2025 runners-up who recently earned Boat of the Week honors in the V4+, and UConn, whose 2V8 and 3V8 boats have both secured weekly conference awards this spring. Established programs from Villanova, Monmouth, and UC San Diego round out the championship field.
 
Great Dane Notes Immediate Impact in the CAA: UAlbany made its presence felt early in its inaugural CAA season, and second season overall. The Varsity Eight boat earned the program's first-ever conference honor on March 25, being named CAA Co-Boat of the Week. The recognition followed a dominant performance at the John Ferris Regatta, where the Great Danes secured gold with a commanding 14-second margin over the field.
 
Peaking at the Right Time: The Great Danes return to the Cooper River with significant momentum following a standout performance at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta. The Varsity Eight boat showed elite grit by advancing through a deep field to qualify for the Bergman Trophy Grand Final. After posting the 10th-best time in trials, they climbed the rankings to finish sixth overall in the flagship event.
 
On the Watch: Riley Fallon and Cate Rochow were both named to the FSN Watchlist heading into the 2025-26 season, earning national recognition among athletes to watch during championship season. The honor highlights their projected impact within the lineup and underscores their importance to UAlbany's competitive push in its inaugural CAA campaign. Both rowers have played key roles throughout the spring and will look to carry that momentum into the conference championship and the road to NCAA qualification.
 
Global Roster: The 2025-26 roster under second-year head coach Kim Chavers features a diverse blend of domestic talent and international perspectives, with student-athletes representing the United Kingdom (Nina Blazevic), Germany (Cate Rochow), Lithuania (Jurgita Staskunaite), Brazil (Maria Runco), and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Jianna Stowe).
 
Championship Sunday Schedule
9:30 a.m. – 3V8 Final 1
9:40 a.m. – V4 Final 1
9:50 a.m. – 2V8 Final 1
10:00 a.m. – V8 Final 1
11:00 a.m. – AWARDS CEREMONY
 
Stay Updated
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