First Varsity Eight Wins Bronze at Central/South Region Sprints

Sunday, May 18

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

9:00 AM

Michigan

Central/South Region Finals

First Varsity Eight Wins Bronze at Central/South Region Sprints

5/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Site: Oak Ridge, Tenn. (Melton Hill Lake)
Event: #13 Michigan at Central/South Region Sprints
U-M Team Finish: 4th Place of 12 Teams (331 Points) in Central Region (5th Overall)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, May 20 -- NCAA Selection Show, 4 p.m. (NCAA.com)

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team earned a fourth-place regional team finish and placed fifth overall at the Central/South Region Sprints on Sunday (May 18). The Wolverine first varsity eight spearheaded the effort by earning the bronze medal. The third-place showing is the boat's best result at the Central/South Region Sprints since 2004, when it also took third. Virginia snared the overall and South Region titles with 407 points. Michigan State won the Central Region crown with 371 points, followed by Ohio State (351), Wisconsin (348) and Michigan (331).

The Wolverines will learn their NCAA Championships fate on Tuesday (May 20) when the NCAA announces the field at 4 p.m. on www.ncaa.com. The 2008 NCAA Championships will take place in Sacramento, Calif., from May 30-June 1. Twelve teams from across the country will receive team bids (first varsity eight, second varsity eight, first varsity four). Additionally, four schools will get at-large bids for the first varsity eight only.

The Wolverine first varsity eight placed third in the A final behind Virginia and Michigan State. Through 250 meters, Michigan was in fifth place, four seats behind the leading Spartans. At 500 meters, MSU was still first, followed by Virginia and Clemson. U-M, Tennessee and Wisconsin were half a length back from the front in a dead heat for fourth. The Cavaliers took over the race at 1,000 meters, holding two seats on MSU and a full length on Clemson and Michigan in third and fourth, respectively. Michigan had a strong third quarter of the race, walking through Clemson and working into Michigan State in an effort to get second. Virginia went on to win in 6:33.60, followed by Michigan State (6:35.80), which held off the third-place Wolverine boat (6:37.00) by three seats. Clemson, Wisconsin and Tennessee were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Michigan's second varsity eight earned eighth overall by taking second in the B final. Through 500 meters the Wolverines were in fourth place, but only a half length behind the leading Clemson boat. A productive second 500 meters put U-M ahead of Louisville into third, two seats behind second-place Clemson and six seats back of the new leader, Minnesota. Michigan continued its push to the front and overtook Clemson in the last 500 meters. The Wolverines' complete comeback fell two seats short as the Golden Gophers won in 6:54.20, which was 0.60 seconds ahead of U-M.

The first varsity four finished fifth in its A final. At 1,000 meters, Virginia, Michigan State, Ohio State and Minnesota were ahead by open water over U-M and Clemson. The Wolverines managed to walk away from Clemson in the end to take fifth, but were not able to make up any ground on the rest of the field. MSU won the race in 7:26.70, 11.20 seconds in front of Michigan.

The U-M novice eight finished in eighth place overall with its runner-up showing in the B final. North Carolina led for much of the race, but never gained a large advantage over Michigan and Michigan State. In the sprint, MSU won out in 7:18.60. Michigan edged out North Carolina by a bow ball to earn second place in a time of 7:19.70.

The Michigan open four was sixth in the A final. The Wolverines were in a hole early, nearly a length behind the other five boats after 500 meters. U-M never recovered and had open water between itself and the rest of the field at the finish. MSU won the race in 7:31.80. Michigan was 17.70 seconds off the winning pace in 7:49.50.

Complete results can be found on the Oak Ridge Rowing Association's website.

Final Team Standings

 1. Virginia 407 2. Michigan State 371 3. Ohio State 351 4. Wisconsin 348 5. Michigan 331 6. Clemson 320 7. Notre Dame 315 8. Tennessee 293 9. Minnesota 264 10. Louisville 208

* Virginia wins South Region and overall titles
# Michigan State wins Central Region title

RESULTS

 First Varsity Eight - A Final 1. Virginia 6:33.60 - 198 points 2. Michigan State 6:35.80 - 189 points 3. Michigan 6:37.00 - 180 points 4. Clemson 6:38.10 - 171 points 5. Wisconsin 6:40.10 - 162 points 6. Tennessee 6:40.30 - 153 points Second Varsity Eight - B Final 1. Minnesota 6:54.20 - 90 points 2. Michigan 6:54.80 - 84 points 3. Clemson 6:56.80 - 78 points 4. Louisville 6:58.20 - 72 points 5. Central Florida 7:02.50 - 66 points 6. Texas 7:05.70 - 60 points First Varsity Four - A Final 1. Michigan State 7:26.70 - 57 points 2. Virginia 7:28.10 - 54 points 3. Ohio State 7:29.90 - 51 points 4. Minnesota 7:30.90 - 48 points 5. Michigan 7:37.90 - 45 points 6. Clemson 7:41.10 - 42 points Novice Eight - B Final 1. Michigan State 7:18.60 - 14 points 2. Michigan 7:19.70 - 12 points 3. North Carolina 7:19.90 - 10 points 4. Iowa 7:24.90 - 8 points 5. Kansas 7:26.60 - 6 points 6. Kansas State 7:37.50 - 4 points Open Four - A Final 1. Michigan State 7:31.80 - 15 points 2. Ohio State 7:36.90 - 14 points 3. Wisconsin 7:39.00 - 13 points 4. Notre Dame 7:39.70 - 12 points 5. Virginia 7:43.00 - 11 points 6. Michigan 7:49.50 - 10 points

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Mark Rothstein
On the team's likelihood of receiving a bid to the NCAA Championships... "The first varsity eight should get an at-large bid to nationals. Really, the question is whether we get a team bid or not and we'll find out on Tuesday (May 20)."

On his thoughts about the team's performance... "I was very happy. I thought our team did a great job preparing for this regatta. I felt really good coming into it and it was nice to have that realized on the water."

L I N E U P S

First Varsity Eight: Laura Dunn (coxswain), Adrienne Mecham, Lori Gordon, Sarah Gribler, Grace Luczak, Ashley Kroll, Karen Colwell, Cate Trumble, Julia Nelson.