Michigan
NCAA Semis/Repechage
Wolverines in Position to Battle for Team Championship
5/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- The most anticipated race of the second day of the 2001 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships lived up to its billing, just not the way anyone expected.
In the first semifinal of the First Varsity Eight, second-ranked and undefeated Michigan and top-ranked and undefeated Brown were expected to battle for first place on Friday (May 25) and give everyone a preview of Saturday's Grande Final. However, Southern California spoiled that plan by jumping out ahead at the start, leading wire-to-wire and winning the semifinal. Despite each ending unbeaten streaks in the race, both Michigan and Brown will join USC in the Grande Final tomorrow at 11:40 a.m.
At the start of the race, a stiff crosswind caused a switch to a countdown start. The change had little effect as all six boats had solid starts. Out of the gate, it was USC and Ohio State by about two seats. However, Brown and Michigan quickly moved into second and third, respectively, behind the Trojans. USC and Brown traded the lead from the 250-meter mark to the 1,250-meter mark before Michigan took a move to capture second place from the Bears. By this point, it was a three-boat race as the rest of the field (Harvard, Boston University and Ohio State) had fallen behind by open water just 750 meters into the race.
With 500 meters remaining in the race, the battle for first was between Michigan and Southern California. USC's one-half boat-length lead held through the sprints, giving them the win and ending Michigan's season-long unbeaten streak. For Brown, which finished third by open water behind U-M, the loss ended a streak of 31 consecutive races, dating back to the 1999 regular season, in which the first varsity eight had finished first.
Joining the Wolverines, Bears and Trojans in the Grande Final of the First Varsity Eight are Washington, Princeton and Syracuse. Each of those boats qualified from the second semifinal.
In other races this afternoon, Ohio State and Virginia advanced to join Michigan in the Varsity Four Grande Final tomorrow at 10:20 a.m., and Virginia and Ohio State join Michigan in the Second Varsity Eight Grande Final tomorrow at 11 a.m.
In terms of the team competition, Michigan, Brown and Washington are the only teams with all three boats in the Grande Final of their respective event. For the Wolverines, this is the first time in four trips to the national championships that they have accomplished this feat. It is also important to note that schools with boats in the first varsity eight only do not score points toward the team championship if they are not one of the 10 schools with team bids.
In the spare pair race, a non-scoring NCAA Championships tradition, Michigan's pair finished second in its heat. The boat, made up of Elizabeth Kreger (Wyandotte, Mich./Theodore Roosevelt HS) and Caroline Gregory (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington HS), was second to Syracuse's pair.
Friday Results (Semifinals)
First Varsity Eight (Semifinal 1) 1. Southern California* 6:43.30 2. MICHIGAN* 6:45.85 3. Brown* 6:52.17 4. Harvard 6:57.09 5. Boston University 6:57.25 6. Ohio State 7:00.15 First Varsity Eight (Semifinal 2) 1. Washington* 6:49.90 2. Princeton* 6:53.53 3. Syracuse* 6:53.98 4. California 6:59.20 5. Michigan State 7:03.85 6. Yale 7:05.36 * Advance to First Varsity Eight Grande Final First Varsity Eight (Third Final) 1. Iowa 6:54.91 13th 6 pts. 2. Rutgers 6:57.10 14th 3. Virginia 7:03.62 15th 3 pts 4. Williams 7:10.28 16th 5. Ithaca 7:12.96 17th 6. Western Washington 7:17.23 18th 7. Wesleyan 7:23.35 19th
Michigan Lineup
First Varsity Eight
Coxswain Helen Dalis, Kate Johnson, Laurel Donnell-Fink, Alison Hickey, Christina Meyer, Jenny Bryant, Bernadette Marten, Tami McBratney and Kate Maxim
Friday Results (Repechage Heats)
Second Varsity Eight (Repechage) 1. Virginia# 7:05.90 2. Ohio State# 7:06.55 3. California 7:08.50 4. Princeton 7:10.49 5. Iowa 7:11.99 6. Boston University 7:19.27 # Advance to Second Varsity Eight Grande Final Varsity Four (Repechage) 1. Ohio State$ 7:54.20 2. Virginia$ 7:58.49 3. Princeton 8:01.26 4. California 8:05.35 5. Harvard 8:07.98 6. Boston University 8:08.74 $ Advance to Varsity Four Grande Final
Saturday Finals
First Varsity Eight (Grande Final) Brown MICHIGAN Princeton Southern California Syracuse Washington First Varsity Eight (Petite Final) Boston University California Harvard Michigan State Ohio State Yale Second Varsity Eight (Grande Final) Brown Harvard MICHIGAN Ohio State Virginia Washington Second Varsity Eight (Petite Final) Boston University California Harvard Princeton Varsity Four (Grande Final) Brown Iowa MICHIGAN Ohio State Virginia Washington Varsity Four (Petite Final) Boston University California Iowa Princeton
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
