Michigan
Central Region Heats
Wolverines Dominate First Day of Central Region Meet
5/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Event: #2 Michigan at Central Region Championships (Day 1)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 13 -- at Central Region Championships (Oak Ridge, Tenn.)
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- All three of the NCAA-scoring boats (first varsity eight, second varsity eight and first varsity four) and the first novice eight of the second-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team won their races today (Saturday, May 12) at the Central Region Championships on Melton Hill Lake. The wins put the boats in the Grande Final of their respective events tomorrow and give the Wolverines a chance to defend last season's team championship. The wins also keep season-long winning streaks in tact for each of the three NCAA-scoring boats, as those crews have combined to win all 25 of their races this season.
The Grande Finals look to be very competitive and very familiar as Big Ten rivals Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State each have boats in the Grande Final of the First Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight, First Varsity Four and Second Varsity Four races.
Michigan's first varsity eight, rowing without injured Kate Johnson (Portland, Ore./Jesuit HS) for the second consecutive regatta, had a frustrating race in the morning heat. After getting to the starting line late and then dealing with a false start due to boats falling out of alignment, the group bounced back and posted a 6:45.2 to beat second-place Texas (6:50.0) by open water.
The boat recovered well and turned in the best time of the day (6:34.4) to win the afternoon semifinal. In an evenly paced race, the Wolverines started out with a two-seat lead off the starting line. They extended the lead to six seats at the 500-meter mark and then to a full boat-length at the halfway point of the race. Extending the lead to open water after the third 500 meters, the crew went on to beat second-place Iowa (6:40.9) by one-half boat-length of open water. The pair of victories gives the boat the top seed heading into tomorrow's Grande Final.
In a slightly tighter race, the second varsity eight found themselves down two seats to Iowa through the first 500 meters of the morning heat. By the 750-meter mark, the boat had eliminated the deficit. From that point, the Wovlerines made a move and walked through the Hawkeyes to take a boat-length lead at the 1,250-meter mark. By the finish line, the boat was over 14 seconds ahead of second-place Iowa (7:00.9) to advance directly to the Grande Final. The Wolverines' time of 6:46.8 was the only time under the seven-minute mark in the heats.
In one of the most dominating races of the day, the first varsity four won their heat and advanced to the Grande Final in commanding fashion. Off the start, the boat jumped to a full boat-length lead at the 500-meter mark. By the time the crews hit the 1,000-meter mark, Michigan had an open-water lead on Michigan State. The Wolverines maintained their pace and crossed the finish line in 7:37.6, nearly 20 seconds faster than Michigan State (7:56.5), to advance directly to the final.
The Wolverines' first novice eight opened the day with an open-water victory over North Carolina. It was a tight race for the first 1,000 meters before Michigan made a move to take the lead in the last half of the third 500 meters and extended that lead to open water by the finish line. The crew also advanced directly to the Grande Final with the win in the heat.
The second varsity four did not have preliminary heats today but will compete in the Grande Final tomorrow.
Weather conditions started out overcast and near 65 degrees for the morning heats before clearing up to partly cloudy skies and about 80 degrees by the first varsity eight race in the afternoon. The weather is supposed to remain the same for tomorrow's final events.
RESULTS
Morning Results (Heats)
First Varsity Eight (Heat 1) 1. MICHIGAN 6:45.2 2. Texas 6:50.0 3. Notre Dame 6:54.1 4. Tennessee 6:59.2 5. North Carolina 7:01.9 Second Varsity Eight (Heat 1) 1. MICHIGAN 6:46.8 2. Iowa 7:00.9 3. Michigan State 7:04.9 4. Notre Dame 7:11.2 5. Tennessee 7:16.1 6. Cincinnati 7:37.9 7. Duke 7:40.2 First Varsity Four (Heat 1) 1. MICHIGAN 7:37.6 2. Michigan State 7:56.5 3. Tennessee 8:03.8 4. Texas 8:05.0 5. Kansas 8:06.6 6. Southern Methodist 8:23.2 First Novice Eight (Heat 1) 1. MICHIGAN 7:03.2 2. North Carolina 7:09.6 3. Duke 7:25.5 4. Michigan State 7:31.8 5. Southern Methodist 7:35.1 6. Tennessee 7:36.9 7. Clemson 8:20.1
Afternoon Results (Semifinals)
First Varsity Eight (Semifinal 1) 1. MICHIGAN 6:34.4 2. Iowa 6:40.9 3. Kansas 6:48.1 4. Duke 6:49.0 5. Tulsa 6:51.9 6. Tennessee 6:52.7
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
