Michigan
Central/South Region Heats
U-M Qualifies Five for Grand Finals at Central/South Region Sprints
5/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Site: Oak Ridge, Tenn. (Melton Hill Lake)
Event: Central/South Region Sprints (Heats/Semifinals)
U-M First Varsity Eight: 1st Place of 6 Teams in Semifinal (6:04.40); 1st Place of 5 Teams in Heat (6:29.70)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 17 -- at Central/South Region Sprints Finals (Oak Ridge, Tenn.)
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- The University of Michigan women's rowing team received top-notch performances from all five of its crews on Day 1 (Saturday, May 16) of the Central/South Region Sprints on Melton Hill Lake. U-M's No. 6-ranked first varsity eight won its heat and semifinal to advance to Sunday's (May 17) grand final. Additionally, Michigan's second varsity eight, first varsity four, novice eight and open four shells also qualified for the grand finals -- an achievement that had not been reached since 2005. With continued strong efforts on Sunday, the Wolverines also could earn their first team bid to the NCAA Championships since 2005.
U-M's top competition in its A/B semifinal came from No. 10 Clemson and No. 14 Wisconsin. The Wolverines hit the finish line in 6:04.40, just over half a length in front of the Tigers (6:06.31). U-M had open water on the third-place Badgers, who earned the final spot in the grand final. No. 19 Minnesota was relegated to the petite final. In the morning, U-M's first varsity eight had an advantage of more than two lengths (6:29.70) on its closest rival -- No. 18 Louisville (6:36.90). The wins were the 10th and 11th of the year for the first varsity eight, compared to a single second-place showing.
The second varsity eight moved comfortably on from its semifinal to the grand final with a second-place effort. The Wolverines crossed the line in 6:18.30, a full length behind Ohio State (6:14.5), yet a handful of seats in front of third-place Wisconsin. Fourth-place Tennessee, which was relegated to the petite final was well back of the top three boats from the Big Ten with a time of 6:28.3. Michigan claimed an open-water triumph in the morning (6:34.50), close to four seconds in front of Clemson (6:38.48).
Michigan's first varsity four posted a third-place finish in its semifinal, trailing Ohio State (6:53.8) and Minnesota (6:55.1) with a time of 6:56.02. The Wolverines earned a relatively close win over Clemson in the morning heat, 7:11.50 to 7:13.64.
The novice eight edged out Duke by 0.9 seconds for second place in the semifinal. Wisconsin finished a full boat length ahead Michigan in 6:32.70. U-M clocked in at 6:36.0, followed by the Blue Devils and then Clemson. U-M missed out on a victory in the heats by 1.80 seconds, taking second behind Central Florida.
The open four won its semifinal in 7:04.40, which was 3.90 seconds better than Clemson and nearly five seconds in front of Virginia's 'B' entry. In the heats, the Michigan open four was second to Ohio State.
Michigan's first grand final on Sunday, May 17, begins at 10:30 a.m. with the open four. The first varsity eight grand final will start at 11:50 a.m.
MORNING RESULTS
First Varsity Eight - Heat 2 1. Michigan 6:29.70 - advance to A/B semifinal 2. Louisville 6:36.90 - advance to A/B semifinal 3. Notre Dame 6:39.59 - advance to A/B semifinal 4. Texas 6:45.58 - advance to C/D semifinal 5. SMU 7:01.17 - advance to C/D semifinal Second Varsity Eight - Heat 3 1. Michigan 6:34.50 - advance to A/B semifinal 2. Clemson 6:38.48 - advance to A/B semifinal 3. Texas 6:41.36 - advance to A/B semifinal 4. Central Florida 6:43.38 - advance to C/D semifinal 5. SMU 6:59.84 - advance to C/D semifinal First Varsity Four - Heat 3 1. Michigan 7:11.40 - advance to A/B semifinal 2. Clemson 7:13.64 - advance to A/B semifinal 3. Indiana 7:26.60 - advance to A/B semifinal 4. Kansas 7:32.84 - advance to C final 5. Eastern Michigan 8:31.34 - advance to C final Novice Eight - Heat 3 1. Central Florida 6:38.00 - advance to A/B semifinal 2. Michigan 6:39.80 - advance to A/B semifinal 3. Alabama 6:49.89 - advance to A/B semifinal 4. Notre Dame 6:52.11 - advance to A/B semifinal 5. Kansas 7:05.99 - advance to C final 6. Oklahoma 'B' 7:22.50 - advance to C final Open Four - Heat 3 1. Ohio State 7:09.30 - advance to A/B semifinal 2. Michigan 7:12.04 - advance to A/B semifinal 3. Notre Dame 7:15.99 - advance to A/B semifinal 4. Kansas 7:24.80 - advance to C/D semifinal 5. Texas 7:32.47 - advance to C/D semifinal
AFTERNOON RESULTS
First Varsity Eight - A/B Semifinal 2 1. Michigan 6:04.40 - advance to A final 2. Clemson 6:06.31 - advance to A final 3. Wisconsin 6:09.60 - advance to A final 4. Minnesota 6:14.00 - advance to B final 5. Notre Dame 6:17.00 - advance to B final 6. Central Florida 6:21.90 - advance to B final Second Varsity Eight - A/B Semifinal 2 1. Ohio State 6:14.50 - advance to A final 2. Michigan 6:18.30 - advance to A final 3. Wisconsin 6:19.20 - advance to A final 4. Tennessee 6:28.30 - advance to B final 5. Minnesota 6:28.60 - advance to B final 6. Texas 6:35.00 - advance to B final First Varsity Four - A/B Semifinal 2 1. Ohio State 6:53.80 - advance to A final 2. Minnesota 6:55.10 - advance to A final 3. Michigan 6:56.02 - advance to A final 4. Wisconsin 6:59.10 - advance to B final 5. Iowa 7:17.50 - advance to B final 6. Louisville 7:29.00 - advance to B final Novice Eight - A/B Semifinal 1 1. Wisconsin 6:32.70 - advance to A final 2. Michigan 6:36.00 - advance to A final 3. Duke 6:36.90 - advance to A final 4. Clemson 6:39.20 - advance to B final 5. Ohio State 6:40.00 - advance to B final 6. Alabama 6:45.70 - advance to B final Open Four - A/B Semifinal 1. Michigan 7:04.40 - advance to A final 2. Clemson 7:07.30 - advance to A final 3. Virginia 'B' 7:09.34 - advance to A final 4. Notre Dame 7:12.20 - advance to B final 5. Duke 7:16.80 - advance to B final 6. Iowa 7:31.06 - advance to B final
LINEUPS
First Varsity Eight -- Laura Dunn (coxswain), Melisa Ongun, Ashley Kroll, Adrienne Mecham, Emily Eiffert, Felice Mueller, Karen Colwell, Cristina Felix, Cate Trumble.
Second Varsity Eight -- Erica Macke (coxswain), Maggie Cooper, Natalie Eisermann, Ashley Jones, Kari Stenbakken, Sarah Gribler, Kate Strzalkowski, Casey Timmons, Liz McCannell.
First Varsity Four -- Jen Entin (coxswain), Michela Musto, Jordan Peek, Julia Darnton.
Open Four -- Margaret Deinek (coxswain), Nellie Ruedig, Brittany Poston, Maureen Kelly, Suzanne Maddamma.
First Novice Eight -- Sarah Adams (coxswain), Ariel Piotter, Olivia Klipa, Jeanise Dobski, Jill Szydloski, Nicole Dressler, Sarah Kempa, Lindsey Healy, Emily Smalligan.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
