Russia Replaces Cuba at Windermere Cup Rowing in Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — The Russian men's national rowing team will replace the Cuban national team at the 2016 Windermere Cup rowing regatta. The Cambridge University women's rowing club is filling the spot of the Cuban women.

The University of Washington announced the change Tuesday. The May 7 event marks the start of the boating season in the Puget Sound area.

Washington wanted the Cuban men's and women's teams for the regatta's 30th anniversary. But the school says the teams faced "difficulty" getting to the competition.

The Russian team is expected to consist of a majority of rowers that took the bronze medal at the 2015 U-23 World Championship. The former Soviet Union team competed in the first Windermere Cup in 1987.

The Stanford men and San Diego women are also competing.