ANNAPOLIS, Md. - With the postseason coming into focus within the next month for the Navy women's rowing program, the Mids will go up against a top-notch field at the 2019 Clemson Invitational this Friday and Saturday. Entering five boats in the racing at Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C., Navy is one of 21 national programs that will test themselves in a pair of contests on Friday and later with three-tiered championship finals on Saturday.

The 21-team field is highlighted by six teams that are currently ranked in the top-20 NCAA Division I poll and seven more that are receiving votes ... No. 10 Virginia, No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 17 Duke, No. 18 Oregon State, No. 19 Syracuse, No. 20 Alabama, R/V UCLA, R/V UCF, R/V Louisville, R/V Minnesota, R/V Oklahoma, R/V Penn and R/V Washington State. In total, nine different conferences will be represented at Lake Hartwell. Navy and Boston University both will be carrying the Patriot League flag.

Navy will be entering its first, second and third varsity eight boats, as well as its first and second varsity squads in action this weekend. The Mids' third varsity eight and second varsity four crews will kick off the racing on Friday with respective races at 8:30 a.m. and 9:12 a.m. The NCAA boats (V8, 2V8 and V4) will get into the action starting at 9:22 a.m. with the first varsity four boat, while the second varsity eights take to the water next beginning at 9:48 a.m. Navy's first varsity eight rounds out the morning session with racing at 10:14 a.m. The Mids will face off against Cornell, Penn, UCLA, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Tulsa in the V8, 2V8 and V4 heat competitions for this setting.

The second round of prelim racing is slated for late Friday afternoon with the third varsity eight and second varsity four events going off at 5:00 and 5:26 p.m., respectively. The lineup for the top-three boat races in session two consists of Navy, Cornell, Louisville, Washington State, Wisconsin, Oregon State and Clemson. The V4s will race at 5:52 p.m. before the 2V8s proceed at 6:18 p.m. The Mids' V8 close the day at 6:44 p.m.

In both the third varsity eight and second varsity four contests on Friday, Navy will take on different lineups as only 17 fours and 15 eights are entered, respectively.

On Saturday morning all five classifications will have finals. The action begins at 8:30 a.m. with the 3V8s and runs through 10:30 a.m. with the grand final of 1V8 racing.

This is the third straight year, that Navy will be participating in the Clemson Invitational. After their first visit in 2017, the Mids returned in 2018 saw their first varsity eight crew lead the way with a 14th-place finish. As a program, Navy tied for 18th overall in the 21-team field. On the strength of its 27 points from the first varsity competition, Navy finished with 40 points to tie with Tennessee in 18th place. Cornell (45) and Clemson (43) placed in 16th and 17th overall to hold off Navy.

Race Schedule

Session 1 - Friday
8:30 AM - Third Varsity Eight (Heat 1)
9:12 AM - Second Varsity Four (Heat 3)
9:22 AM - First Varsity Four (Heat 1)
9:48 AM - Second Varsity Eight (Heat 1)
10:14 AM - First Varsity Eight (Heat 1)

Session 2 - Friday
5:00 PM - Third Varsity Eight (Heat 1)
5:26 PM - Second Varsity Four (Heat 1)
5:52 PM - First Varsity Four (Heat 1)
6:18 PM - Second Varsity Eight (Heat 1)
6:44 PM - First Varsity Eight (Heat 1)

Session 3 - Saturday
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM - Finals (C,B,A) for 3V8, 2V4, 1V4, 2V8, 1V8