Michigan
NCAA Heats
Wolverines Off to Strong Start at NCAA Championships
5/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Event: NCAA Championships (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Results: First Varsity Eight -- Advanced to Semifinals
Second Varsity Eight -- Advanced to Repechage
First Varsity Four -- Advanced to Repechage
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., May 31-June 1 -- at NCAA Championships (Indianapolis, Ind.)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team enjoyed a good morning on Friday (May 30) during the first day of the NCAA Championships on Eagle Creek Reservoir. U-M's first varsity eight earned a first-place finish in its heat to advance to the semifinals on Saturday (May 31). The first varsity four also did well with a second-place finish and will race in the repechage heats Saturday along with U-M's second varsity eight, which earned sixth place in its preliminary heat.
Michigan opened the morning with a come-from-behind victory from the first varsity eight to advance directly to the semifinals. At the 500-meter mark of the race, the Wolverines were in fifth place out of six teams, trailing leader No. 16 Michigan State by three-quarters of a boat length. U-M moved up to the third position by the midpoint of the race, also having trimmed its deficit to the Spartans to four seats. Heading into the final 500 meters, Michigan had taken a slight lead over MSU. In the sprint, Michigan held off hard-charging No. 1 Stanford to pull out the win in 6:40.50. The Cardinal finished two seats back in 6:41.30 and No. 5 Virginia was third (6:42.60) to round out the three teams that advanced directly to the semifinals.
The second varsity eight started the first leg of its race in fifth position out of six teams at 500 meters. Halfway through the course Michigan had moved up to fourth place but was over a boat length behind the pacesetter, California. The Wolverines were neck and neck with Ohio State for third place between 1,000 and 1,500 meters but seemed to shut down during the final portion of the race as they faded and finished in sixth place with a time of 7:07.07. California earned the lone automatic berth to the Grand Final as it clocked in at 6:52.53.
The varsity four began its race in the rear of the six-team pack through the first few hundred meters. However, the Wolverines made a move into third place to trail only Brown and Ohio State. At 1,500 meters, U-M had overtaken the Buckeyes by a few seats but still trailed Brown by open water. With a final time of 7:37.48, the Wolverines were unable to reel in the Bears, who finished in 7:31.27. Ohio State came in eight seats behind Michigan in third place.
Michigan returns to action on Saturday (May 31) for the first varsity eight semifinals and the second varsity eight and first varsity four repechages. Action on Eagle Creek Reservoir will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST/CDT with the first four repechages.
RESULTS (Day 1, Morning Heats)
First Varsity Eight Heat 1 1. MICHIGAN* 6:40.50 2. Stanford* 6:41.30 3. Virginia* 6:42.60 4. Michigan State 6:43.70 5. Yale 6:47.20 6. Texas 6:47.60 Heat 2 1. Princeton* 6:39.50 2. Harvard* 6:41.00 3. Southern Cal* 6:41.90 4. Ohio State 6:42.60 5. Tennessee 7:01.70 Heat 3 1. Brown* 6:39.27 2. California* 6:42.06 3. Washington* 6:42.09 4. Boston University 6:52.07 5. Washington State 6:59.97 * Advanced to First Varsity Eight Semifinals Second Varsity Eight Heat 1 1. Brown* 6:50.35 2. Virginia 6:56.60 3. Washington 6:59.25 4. Michigan State 7:00.86 5. Yale 7:01.29 6. Harvard 7:02.70 Heat 2 1. California* 6:52.53 2. Ohio State 6:58.88 3. Washington State 7:01.42 4. Stanford 7:01.44 5. Princeton 7:02.40 6. MICHIGAN 7:07.07 * Advanced to Second Varsity Eight Grand Final First Varsity Four Heat 1 1. California* 7:35.39 2. Virginia 7:39.86 3. Washington 7:44.89 4. Harvard 7:50.21 5. Washington State 7:55.37 6. Stanford 8:04.88 Heat 2 1. Brown* 7:31.27 2. MICHIGAN 7:37.48 3. Ohio State 7:39.86 4. Yale 7:40.75 5. Princeton 7:41.72 6. Michigan State 7:47.37 * Advanced to Second Varsity Eight Grand Final
Michigan Lineups
First Varsity Eight -- Helen Dalis (coxswain), Erin Kopicki, Crystal Culp, Stesha Carl, Heather Mandoli, Leah Ketcheson, Brett Sickler, Kate Maxim, Katie Reynolds.
Second Varsity Eight -- Tara Medina (coxswain), Sarah Trowbridge, Emily Goodwin, Elizabeth Godek, Heather DeHainaut, Christin Plunkett, Laura Drongowski, Christina Ceo, Emoke Bury.
First Varsity Four -- Louisa DiLeone (coxswain), Stephanie Shapiro, Elizabeth Kreger, Janine Hanson, Amy Coughlin.
N O T E S
Michigan's first varsity eight won its preliminary heat for the second time (2001) in six years. In 2001, U-M's first eight went on to finish in a team-high third place at the NCAA Championships.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
