Michigan Qualifies Four Boats for Central Region Finals

Saturday, May 15

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

2:00 PM

Michigan

Central/South Region Semifinals

Michigan Qualifies Four Boats for Central Region Finals

5/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Site: Oak Ridge, Tenn. (Melton Hill Lake)
Event: #3 Michigan at Lexus Central/South Region Sprints (Semifinals)
Results: First Varsity Eight -- Advanced to 'A' Final
   Second Varsity Eight -- Advanced to 'A' Final
   First Varsity Four -- Advanced to 'A' Final
   Second Varsity Four -- Advanced to 'A' Final
   First Novice Eight -- Advanced to 'C' Final
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 16 -- at Lexus Central/South Region Sprints (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), 9 a.m.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- The No. 3 University of Michigan women's rowing team had all four of its varsity boats qualify for the 'A' finals during the semifinal competition at the Lexus Central/South Region Sprints on Saturday afternoon (May 15). The first varsity eight finished two-for-two on the day by winning its semifinal race after also winning its morning heat. Meanwhile, the second varsity eight, first varsity four and second varsity four all took care of business by placing second in their respective semifinals to also advance to the finals. Michigan is one of four teams with all of its varsity crews in the top-level finals for Sunday (May 16).

The first varsity eight struggled with its start in the semifinals and sat in fourth place early on. At 500 meters No. 14 Notre Dame had a slight lead over No. 13 Tennessee and U-M. However, the Wolverines responded and took a narrow lead on the Fighting Irish around 1,000 meters. As UND began to fade No. 10 Wisconsin moved up to challenge U-M near the 1,200-meter point. Michigan stayed strong in the last half of the race to hold off Wisconsin by half a boat to turn in a time of 6:46.3. UW (6:48.4) took second and Tennessee (6:48.7) overtook Notre Dame (6:49.5) for third to gain the last spot in the 'A' final. The final will take place at 11:40 a.m. Sunday.

U-M's second varsity eight's race was extremely tight in the beginning as the Maize and Blue, Virginia and Michigan State traded the lead. The Wolverines had a minimal edge near 250 meters, but the Cavaliers reeled them in and took over the lead at 750 meters. UVA held a six-seat advantage on U-M at the halfway point and MSU was over a boatlength behind both crews. Virginia (6:55.3) ended up winning the race by nearly a full length over Michigan (6:59.0), and the Spartans (7:04.3) wound up comfortably in third. The 'A' final for the second varsity eight is at 11:20 a.m. Sunday.

The first varsity four was amidst a pack of boats in its race at the 500-meter mark. Ohio State took a two-seat lead over the battling Wolverines and Spartans. By 800 meters Notre Dame had crept up on MSU and taken over the third position. The Buckeyes held a stern-to-bow lead over second-place Michigan. In the stretch, OSU continued to pull away and won the race by open water (7:53.9). U-M had to pull hard during its last strokes to fend off the charging Irish, 7:58.7 to 8:00.1. The first varsity four 'A' final begins at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The second varsity four was back in fifth place at the opening stages of its race but quickly regrouped to move into third by the 250-meter mark. Virginia had a boatlength lead by 500 meters and U-M and OSU were in a dead heat for second place. At 1,000 meters the Buckeyes had faded and were replaced by Clemson. With the Cavaliers stretching their lead the Wolverines just barely moved up a few seats on Clemson for sole possession of second. The crews continued to spread out all the way to the finish line with UVA taking first (7:59.5), Michigan taking second (8:05.7) and Clemson taking third (8:12.7). The second varsity four final is at 10:40 a.m. Sunday.

The Wolverines will look to earn their sixth Central Region title beginning tomorrow morning (Sunday, May 16) at 9 a.m. on Melton Hill Lake. Complete results and updates are available at Tennessee's site.

Afternoon Results (Semifinals)

First Varsity Eight (Semifinal A/B 1) 1. MICHIGAN 6:46.3 2. Wisconsin 6:48.4 3. Tennessee 6:48.7 4. Notre Dame 6:49.5 5. Iowa 6:57.7 6. Duke 7:00.8 Second Varsity Eight (Semifinal A/B 1) 1. Virginia 6:55.3 2. MICHIGAN 6:59.0 3. Michigan State 7:04.3 4. Tennessee 7:11.1 5. Duke 7:11.5 6. Notre Dame 7:14.5 First Varsity Four (Semifinal B) 1. Ohio State 7:53.9 2. MICHIGAN 7:58.7 3. Notre Dame 8:00.1 4. Michigan State 8:04.3 5. Tennessee 8:23.1 6. Duke Scratch Second Varsity Four (Repechage) 1. Virginia 7:59.5 2. MICHIGAN 8:05.7 3. Clemson 8:12.7 4. Ohio State 8:19.0 5. Iowa 8:30.7 6. Cincinnati 9:15.2

Morning Results

Lineups

First Varsity Eight: Tara Medina (coxswain), Stesha Carle, Crystal Culp, Katie Reynolds, Heather Mandoli, Leah Ketcheson, Cristin McCarty, Janine Hanson, Emily Goodwin.