Michigan Earns Top-10 Finish at Head of the Charles

Sunday, October 21

Boston, Mass.

2:00 PM

Michigan

Head of the Charles

10/21/2018 3:52:00 PM | Rowing

By: Chad Shepard

» Racing on the historic Charles River in its final event of the fall, Michigan placed ninth overall in Sunday's Women's Championship Eights race.
» The Wolverines were first among three Big Ten teams in competition (Iowa - 15th; Indiana - 21st).
» U-M's varsity squad has completed its fall schedule and will soon head into winter training.

Site: Boston, Mass. (Charles River)
Event: 54th Annual Head of the Charles Regatta
First Varsity Eight Finish: 17:32.142 (9th of 27)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Oct. 28 -- at Michigan State; novice only (Grand River Boathouse), TBA

• Results | Event Home | Race Map

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BOSTON, Mass. -- The University of Michigan rowing program was represented by a ninth-place finish from its first varsity eight boat at the Head of the Charles regatta on the Charles River on Sunday (Oct. 21). The Wolverines placed seventh among all collegiate programs, marking the eighth time in the program's last nine trips to this historic event that at least one Michigan boat earned a top-11 finish.

During a weekend filled with fast times and great racing, the Women's Championship Eights race was among the most exciting, featuring 23 of the top collegiate boats and four club or international boats. U-M's 1V8 was coxed by sophomore Charlotte Powers and stroked by sophomore Emma Luniewicz and showed poise and strength on the water this afternoon, finishing among the top collegiate programs and first among three Big Ten teams with a time of 17:32.142.

The Wolverines rowed well early, putting themselves in a position to compete past the two-mile mark of the race. U-M gave chase towards Princeton as it passed Syracuse in a tight bunch around a tight bend, and Powers was forced to navigate the boat around trouble at the famous Eliot Bridge. With several boats including the Orange giving chase, U-M closed strong down the stretch to secure a strong place in the final results and an encouraging finish to the fall season.

U-M showed its fitness level is among that of the top national programs, and finished within 2.08 seconds of both Texas and the University of Virginia. Stanford (16:58.089) and California (17:03.990) impressed with first- and second-place finishes among NCAA boats, with the Cardinal winning the collegiate title.

The first-place time of 16:41.776 came from the "A" boat for Team USA Women's Championship Eight, featuring U-M All-American and Volunteer Assistant coach Felice Mueller. Fresh off its gold medal-winning run at the World Championships, the top American boat impressed with its performance. Mueller finished the weekend with another first-place performance after placing sixth (19:52.553) in the singles race on Saturday.

Michigan's varsity team has concluded its fall season, and now will prepare for off-water work and the team's annual winter training trip. The novice program will compete next weekend in East Lansing, Michigan.

Results

Women's Championship Eights (Event 57)
1. USRowing 'A' -- 16:41.776
2. Stanford -- 16:58.089
3. USRowing 'B' -- 16:58.225
4. California -- 17:03.990
5. Princeton -- 17:23.276
6. Yale -- 17:24.904
7. Virginia -- 17:30.062
8. Texas -- 17:30.470
9. MICHIGAN --- 17:32.142
10. DRV Potsdam (Germany) -- 17:37.762
11. Brown -- 17:39.070
12. Radcliffe (Harvard) -- 17:39.070
13. Syracuse -- 17:47.998
14. Northeastern -- 17:54.608
15. Iowa -- 17:56.680

Varsity Lineup

2V8: Charlotte Powers (coxswain), Emma Luniewicz, Meghan Gutknecht, Victoria Glunt, Madison Byrd, Rachel Fanning, Annika Hoffmann, Kathryn Grotto, Caroline Hendershot