Michigan
NCAA Championship
Wolverines Advance All Boats to A/B Semifinals at NCAA Championships
5/31/2024 1:28:00 PM | Rowing
Site: Bethel, Ohio (Harsha Lake)
Event: NCAA Championships (Day 1)
First Varsity Eight Finish: 2nd of 6 (6:56.044)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, June 1 -- at NCAA Championships - Day 2 (Bethel, Ohio), 8:24 a.m.
BETHEL, Ohio -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan rowing program advanced all three of its boats to A/B semifinals on Friday (May 31) at the first day of the NCAA Championships on Harsha Lake at East Fork State Park. U-M placed second (first varsity eight), third (second varsity eight), and third (first varsity four) in its three heats.
With the top three boats in each heat advancing to A/B semifinals, the route to the Grand Final in each boat class began this morning. After today's results, the Wolverines are well on their way to a successful weekend.
In the first varsity eight event, the Wolverines placed second to Princeton, finishing about three and a half seconds behind the heat winners. U-M and Penn battled early, jostling for a couple of seats to be in second position as the Tigers led early. Princeton kept up the pace from the lead position as Rutgers efforted to maintain contact with Michigan and Penn, forming a clear top four.
Michigan made a move around 750 meters to edge into second place, just feet ahead of Penn. Past the halfway point, Penn started to nudge ahead but the Wolverines had a half-deck lead and would not let it go. Princeton's full-length lead remained intact as the crews entered the final stretch. U-M's sprint put them closer to the leaders, comfortably in second place by a half-length. U-M finished in 6:456.044.
U-M will race Syracuse, Tennessee, Stanford, California and Washington in the A/B semifinal on Saturday (June 1) at 8:24 a.m.
In the second varsity eight, Tennessee burst out to the lead, cruising through the first 1,000 meters with the lead. Washington held onto Tennessee and did its best to maintain the elevated pace. Michigan's start was not as quick as the Volunteers and Huskies, but past 500 meters, U-M had reached its form and was settled into third while looking smooth.
The Wolverines had contact with UW's boat as the lead trio crossed the 1,000. Then, Washington found another gear and moved cleanly past Tennessee for first place, and the second-place Volunteers had open water on U-M. Heading into the sprint, fourth-place Duke had contact with U-M, but the Wolverines still held the edge comfortably.
Washington finished its race with a clean final 500, leaving Tennessee behind. U-M held onto third place by a few seats over Duke and the Blue Devils faded toward the finish, giving Michigan an edge of nearly 10 seconds to secure third place.
The Wolverines will line up with Pennsylvania, Ohio State, Stanford, Washington and Princeton during tomorrow's A/B semifinal at 8:56 a.m.
In the first varsity four, it was California leading early. Michigan was second for a few strokes before Princeton drew even and positioned itself to move through the Wolverines around 750 meters.
Still jockeying for second place, U-M was passed by the Tigers, who drew level with Cal while Michigan had put open water on Indiana, who was chasing from fourth position. Princeton moved again at 1,000 meters and walked through California. The Golden Bears kept contact but could not move back ahead while U-M made one more push down the sprint, eating slightly into Cal's lead. Michigan crossed less than five seconds behind second-place Cal.
The Wolverines will go up against Rutgers, Washington, Yale, Stanford and Tennessee in the A/B semifinal beginning at 9:36 a.m. tomorrow morning.
U-M is back for day two at the NCAA Championships on Saturday. The first race for the Wolverines will be the 1V8 A/B semifinal at 8:24 a.m. Finishing top three is again the target, as it will earn a bid from A/B semifinals to the Grand Final (national places 1-6). Bottom-three finishing boats will compete in the Petite Final (places 7-12).
Results
First Varsity Eight
1. Princeton -- 6:52.525
2. MICHIGAN -- 6:56.044
3. Pennsylvania -- 6:58.396
4. Rutgers -- 7:04.337
5. Jacksonville -- 7:24.773
6. Boston -- 7:28.404
Second Varsity Eight
1. Washington -- 6:58.424
2. Tennessee -- 7:02.803
3. MICHIGAN -- 7:09.561
4. Duke -- 7:19.091
5. Boston U.-- 7:42.395
First Varsity Four
1. Princeton -- 7:52.697
2. California -- 7:57.681
3. MICHIGAN -- 8:02.403
4. Indiana -- 8:15.717
5. Northeastern -- 8:31.347
6. Jacksonville -- 8:35.224
Michigan Lineup
1V8: Rocky Morabito (cox), Sara Houben, Gracie Landefeld, Madeleine Lauriault, Amy Newton, Zara Collisson, Jana Peachey, Katie Easton, Aubrey Fitts
2V8: Logan Roeder (cox), Autumn Crowe, Annaka Draaisma, Brooke Gietzen, Anna Muench, Adelaide Lammers, Ariana Shokoohi, Abby Hathaway, Sarah McKay
1V4: Madeson Scott, Gabrielle Graves, Carla Russell, Emily Nelson, Lillie Gregory (cox)
Players Mentioned
