Michigan Olympic Updates: Monday, Aug. 11
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Olympics
Rowing
Three U-M rowers were in action on Monday at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. Heather Mandoli and the Canadian eight made their 2008 Olympic debut after their opening heat had been postponed a day earlier due to inclement weather. Mandoli (class of 2004) and her teammates placed third (6:12.68) behind the United States (6:06.53) and Great Britain (6:08.68). Canada trailed the U.S., Great Britain and Germany for three quarters of the race before edging out the Germans by a deck at the finish line. Up next for Mandoli and the Canadian eight is the repechage on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
The U.S. women's double sculls, which includes Ellen Tomek, won its repechage to advance to Saturday's Aug. 16 final. The American duo controlled the race from start to finish, turning in a time of 6:58.84, nearly two seconds better than its closest competitor, the Czech Republic.
"First of all, our goal was to qualify, and our second goal was to win," Tomek said. "We just went out there and wanted to execute a full 2,000 meters this time instead of 1,500 and hang on for dear life (like the heat). It was good. We improved from our heat. We've been working on some technical things, and we have a couple more days to improve on some more things. Hopefully, it gets even better."
U-M volunteer assistant coach Ken Jurkowski qualified for the men's single sculls semifinals after taking third in his quarterfinal race. Back in fourth place heading into the last 500 meters, Jurkowski surged past the Netherlands' Sjoerd Hamburger to earn the third and final spot into the semifinals. New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale won the race in a 6:50.18, with Sweden's Lassi Karonen finishing second in a 6:50.40. Jurkowski clocked a 6:53.26. The semifinals are slated for Wednesday (Aug. 13).
| INDIVIDUAL | EVENT | RESULT |
| Heather Mandoli (Canada) | Women's Eight Rowing Heats | 3rd, Heat 1 (6:12.68) |
| Brett Sickler (USA) | Women's Eight Rowing Heats | Alternate (1st) |
| Ken Jurkowski (USA) | Men's Single Scull Reps/Q | 3rd, Quarterfinal 4 (6:53.26+) |
| Ellen Tomek (USA) | Women's Double Scull Reps/Q | 1st, Repechage 2 (6:58.84^) |
Swimming
Former Michigan volunteer men's swimming coach Michael Phelps won his second gold medal in Beijing, swimming the first leg of a dramatic 4x100-meter freestyle relay final. The American foursome of Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak took gold in a time of 3:08.24, shattering the previous world record by four seconds. Phelps set a new American 100m record of 47.51 seconds in the first leg of the relay, but Australia led after 100m as their first leg swimmer, Eamon Sullivan, touched the wall in 47.24, breaking the 100m world record. The Americans trailed France by 0.59 seconds heading into the final leg when Lezak swam the fastest-ever 100m relay split, 46.06 seconds, to edge out Alain Bernard of France by 0.08 seconds.
Earlier in the morning session in Beijing, Phelps and Michigan alumnus Peter Vanderkaay took to the pool in the semifinals of the 200-meter freestyle. Phelps and Vanderkaay were both in the second semifinal, won by Vanderkaay in a time of 1:45.76. Phelps finished third in the heat with a time of 1:46.28. Both Vanderkaay and Phelps advanced to the 200m freestyle final which will be held Tuesday morning in Beijing.
In Monday's evening session in Beijing, Phelps' busy Olympic calendar continued with the qualifying heats of the 200-meter butterfly. Also swimming in the 200m fly heats was Michigan junior Alon Mandel, who swam in heat three, finishing fourth with a new personal-best time of 1:59.27. Phelps, swimming in heat six, set a new Olympic record, winning his heat in 1:53.70. Phelps advanced to Tuesday morning's semifinals of the 200m fly as the top seed. Mandel finished 28th overall and will not advance to the semifinals.
| INDIVIDUAL | EVENT | RESULT |
| Michael Phelps (USA) | Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay | 1st, Gold (3:08.24!*) |
| Michael Phelps (USA) | Men's 200m Freestyle Semfinals | 3rd, Heat 2 (1:46.28^) |
| Peter Vanderkaay (USA) | Men's 200m Freestyle Semfinals | 1st, Heat 2 (1:45.76^) |
| Alon Mandel (Israel) | Men's 200m Butterfly Heats | 4th, Heat 3 (1:59.27) |
| Michael Phelps (USA) | Men's 200m Butterfly Heats | 1st, Heat 6 (1:53.70!) |
Water Polo
Former U-M All-American Betsey Armstrong made seven saves for the U.S. in a frantic 12-11 win over China in the Olympic opener at the Ying Tung Natatorium. The former Wolverine netminder kept things close in a game that never saw the two teams separated by more than two goals. The United States took the decisive lead at 3:22 and Armstrong made it stand up with a save on the last opportunity of the game with eight seconds remaining.
| INDIVIDUAL | EVENT | RESULT |
| Betsey Armstrong (USA) | USA Water Polo vs. China | W, 12-11 (7 saves) |
* World Record
! Olympic Record
^ Qualified for finals
+ Advanced to semifinals
