First Varsity Eight Wins Repechage, Qualifies for Semis

Friday, May 27

Sacramento, Calif.

4:00 PM PT

Michigan

NCAA Repechage

First Varsity Eight Wins Repechage, Qualifies for Semis

5/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Site: Sacramento, Calif. (Lake Natoma)
Event: #12 Michigan at NCAA Championships (Repechage)
U-M Results: First Varsity Eight -- Advanced to Semifinals
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 29 -- Semifinals/Repechage at NCAA Championships (Sacramento, Calif.), 9:30 a.m. PDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team pushed its first varsity eight into the semifinals of the 2005 NCAA Championships thanks to a first-place finish in Friday afternoon's (May 27) repechage race. U-M's top boat was fourth in its morning heat on Friday, forcing the Maize and Blue to requalify in the repechage. The semifinals will take place on Saturday (May 28) and the finals on Sunday (May 29).

The field was clumped together throughout the opening 500 meters as less than a boat length separated the first-place crew, No. 10 USC, from the last, No. 16 Syracuse. After the first quarter of the sprint U-M was in third position. In the middle of the race the Wolverines made their move and took over first place from USC by just a seat at 1,000 meters. No. 14 Michigan State, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 11 Wisconsin remained within striking distance, however.

With just 500 meters left Michigan continued to surge ahead and led by about seven seats over rushing Tennessee. USC was just behind in third, followed by Michigan State. U-M held off everyone at the sprint to win in a time of 6:47.46. In a photo finish, Tennessee (6:48.95) beat out USC (6:49.07), though both teams will advance to the Saturday semifinals with Michigan. Finishing fourth through seventh, respectively, were Michigan State, No. 15 UCLA, Wisconsin and Syracuse. The quartet will compete for places 13-16 in a Saturday final.

The first varsity eight returns to Lake Natoma tomorrow (May 28) for its semifinal at 10:45 a.m. PDT. The second varsity eight's repechage is at 10 a.m. and the first varsity four's repechage is at 9:45 a.m. The finals will take place on Sunday morning (May 30). To follow the races live, visit hornetsports.com.

RESULTS (Day 1, Afternoon Repechage)

First Varsity Eight Repechage 1. MICHIGAN* 6:47.46 2. Southern Cal* 6:48.95 3. Tennessee* 6:49.07 4. Michigan State 6:51.21 5. UCLA 6:55.55 6. Wisconsin 6:56.55 7. Syracuse 7:04.19 * Advanced to First Varsity Eight Semifinals

Q U O T E S

Head Coach Mark Rothstein
On the first varsity eight's repechage victory ... "The first varsity eight raced much better this afternoon than in the morning. We finished ahead of some really good crews that had beaten us earlier in the season. I think things really worked out for us better in the repechage."

On the second varsity eight and first varsity four ... "I think the second eight and the four raced very well by both finishing in third place in their heats. Tomorrow will be very competitive and we're going to have to step it up to make the finals."

Senior First Varsity Eight Coxswain Tara Medina
On the comparison between the prelimary heat and the repechage ... "At an event like nationals there is a lot going on and you know that whether it be the heat, the semifinal or the final every crew is great, they're awesome. This morning I think we just rowed a nervous race and it showed in the results. In the afternoon we calmed down. In the first varsity eight especially, the margin is so close between the teams that you need to come ready. We did that and brought our 'A' game in the repechage. All the other crews in that race were awesome, which pushed us, and we had to show that we weren't just going to lie down."

On what to expect in the semifinals ... "We're looking forward to tomorrow's race. No matter what it's going to be hard. We feel more confident because we beat some crews like Michigan State and Wisconsin, which had beaten us recently. The repechage was a confidence builder and tomorrow we just have to as ready as we were this afternoon."

Michigan Lineups