Just minutes before the V8+ race, the NCAA showed coverage of each of the boats, focusing in on the student-athlete's faces. Unlike the defending champions Western Washington, who looked very serious, Humboldt State, full of smiles, waved to the cameras and appeared very calm.
As the boats took off, Nova Southeastern's coxswain raised her hand in the first 100 meters to indicate her boat had experienced breakage. Breakage allows a race to stop and restart in the event of equipment malfunction, if it is acknowledged within the first 100 meters. If a team falsely claims a breakage (meaning there wasn't any equipment malfunction), however, the team is awarded a warning; two warnings result in disqualification.
Following the restart, Western Washington jumped out in front with Nova Southeastern and Humboldt State not far behind. Halfway into the race, the Jacks had moved into the second spot with a two-seat lead over the Sharks, but were still seven seats behind the Vikings.
Coming into the final 500 meters, the intensity elevated extremely as the Jacks started to make their move, taking one seat at a time off Western Washington's lead. With 250 meters left, Humboldt State pushed harder than ever to move into the lead and crossed the finish line to complete the upset over the seven-time National Champions with a 6:48.84 time.
