U-M Boats Off To Slow Start at NCAA Championships

Friday, May 27

Sacramento, Calif.

8:00 AM PT

Michigan

NCAA Heats

5/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Site: Sacramento, Calif. (Lake Natoma)
Event: #12 Michigan at NCAA Championships (Preliminary Heats)
U-M Results: First Varsity Eight -- Advanced to Repechage
   Second Varsity Eight -- Advanced to Repechage
   First Varsity Four -- Advanced to Repechage
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 27 -- First Varsity Eight Repechage at NCAA Championships (Sacramento, Calif.), 4 p.m. PDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing had a middling performance in the preliminary heats of the 2005 NCAA Championships on Friday (May 27) on Lake Natoma. The first varsity eight was fourth in its heat, missing out on its first chance to qualify for the semifinals. As a result, the first eight has to compete in Friday afternoon's (4 p.m.) repechage with six other crews for the chance to advance to Saturday's semifinals. The top three crews in the repechage advance to the semifinals. Michigan's second varsity eight and first varsity four both turned in third-place finishes and will race in repechages Saturday.

In the first varsity eight heat Princeton jumped out to the early lead followed by Ohio State, UCLA, Harvard and Michigan. By the 500-meter mark, the Wolverines were mired in last place, more than a length behind first-place Princeton. Princeton was running away from the field at 1,000 meters; meanwhile both Ohio State and U-M were gaining on second-place Harvard as UCLA had fallen back. Harvard continued to fend off OSU in the final 500 meters, but the Wolverines could not keep pace and were slipping back into fourth. Princeton handily won the race (6:21.00), and in a photo finish Harvard (6:24.36) edged out Ohio State (6:24.42) for second. Both the Crimson and Buckeyes earned semifinal bids by finishing in the top three. Michigan took fourth in 6:32.69 and UCLA was fifth in 6:42.46, forcing both teams into the afternoon's repechage heat for the chance to qualify for the semifinals.

In the second varsity eight heat, California pulled out to take first place after 500 meters, followed closely by Ohio State, Southern California, Harvard and Michigan. By the midpoint of the race Cal had established a commanding lead. Ohio State was in second with Harvard and Michigan charging hard from the third and fourth positions, respectively. Heading into the final 500 meters Harvard and U-M cut OSU's lead for second place down to less than half a boat length. The Wolverines continued their attack but ran out of course as the Buckeyes took second by four seats. Cal was first in 6:39.55 to earn the automatic berth into Sunday's (May 29) grand final. Ohio State was second in 6:44.87 and U-M was third in 6:45.85. Harvard (fourth), USC (fifth) and Wisconsin (sixth) brought up the rear.

Virginia and Brown went out early in the first varsity four to take control. U-M was nearly a length behind both crews in third place at 500 meters. Michigan pulled away from Yale, which was in fourth, but continued to fall off Virginia and Brown's pace. Virginia took the race in 7:20.37 after Brown fell back into second (7:24.87). The Wolverines captured third in 7:30.99 following Yale's (7:31.99) push in the final 500 meters. Princeton and Harvard were fifth and sixth, respectively.

The Wolverine first varsity eight will return to Lake Natoma this afternoon at 4 p.m. for the repechage. The second varsity eight and first varsity four have their repechages on Saturday morning. Racing commences at 9:30 a.m. The repechage for the first varsity four is at 9:45 a.m.. The second varsity eight repechage is at 10 a.m. The first varsity eight semifinals begin at 10:30 a.m., should U-M's top eight advance following its repechage this afternoon. The finals will take place on Sunday morning. To follow the races live, visit hornetsports.com.

RESULTS (Day 1, Morning Heats)

First Varsity Eight Heat 1 1. Yale* 6:21.73 2. Virginia* 6:22.72 3. Brown* 6:23.93 4. Tennessee 6:27.50 5. Southern California 6:30.52 6. Wisconsin 6:34.20 Heat 2 1. Princeton* 6:21.00 2. Harvard* 6:24.36 3. Ohio State* 6:24.42 4. Michigan 6:32.69 5. UCLA 6:42.46 Heat 3 1. California* 6:26.08 2. Stanford* 6:31.35 3. Washington* 6:33.49 4. Michigan State 6:36.36 5. Syracuse 7:46.01 * Advanced to First Varsity Eight Semifinals Second Varsity Eight Heat 1 1. Virginia* 6:38.15 2. Brown 6:43.11 3. Michigan State 6:43.79 4. Yale 6:43.82 5. Washington 6:48.54 6. Princeton 7:51.91 Heat 2 1. California* 6:39.55 2. Ohio State 6:44.87 3. Michigan 6:45.85 4. Harvard 6:52.34 5. Southern California 6:57.78 6. Wisconsin 6: * Advanced to Second Varsity Eight Grand Final First Varsity Four Heat 1 1. Virginia* 7:20.37 2. Brown 7:24.87 3. MICHIGAN 7:30.99 4. Yale 7:31.99 5. Princeton 7:38.15 6. Harvard 7:47.33 Heat 2 1. Washington* 7:25.22 2. California 7:26.98 3. Wisconsin 7:27.58 4. Southern California 7:32.49 5. Ohio State 7:34.62 6. Michigan State 7:34.72 * Advanced to First Varsity Four Grand Final