Michigan Olympic Updates: Saturday, Aug. 9
8/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Olympics
Rowing
On Saturday, Ellen Tomek and Ken Jurkowski were the first two members of U-M's rowing contingent to compete at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. Rowing in the first of two heats in the women's double sculls, Tomek (class of 2006) and her partner, Megan Kalmoe, placed third in a time of 7:11.17. New Zealand, the defending Olympic champion, won in 7:03.92 to earn an automatic bid to the final next weekend. The U.S. boat was in line for a runner-up finish until the final 500 meters, when Germany asserted itself and went on to take second in 7:09.06. Next up for Tomek is the repechages, or second-chance races, on Monday, Aug. 11.
Jurkowski, a volunteer coach with the U-M women's rowing program in 2007-08, took fourth out of five competitors in his single sculls heat, which moves him forward to the quarterfinals. Leading through the opening 500 meters, Jurkowski dropped slightly off the pace at 1,000 meters into third. Needing only a top-four finish in order to advance, he cruised to the finish line in a time of 7:25.13. He was beaten by Great Britain, Australia and Mexico. Jurkowski's next race will be on Monday, Aug. 11.
| INDIVIDUAL | EVENT | RESULT |
| Ken Jurkowski (USA) | Men's Single Scull Heats | 4th, Heat 5 (7:25.13#) |
| Ellen Tomek (USA) | Women's Double Scull Heats | 3rd, Heat 1 (7:11.17) |
Swimming
On Saturday, former Wolverine and 2004 gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay and former U-M volunteer men's swimming coach and 2004 multiple medalist Michael Phelps kicked off a busy nine days for Wolverines in the pool in Beijing, China. In the first of four events he will swim at the Games, Vanderkaay advanced to the final of the 400-meter freestyle by taking second his heat, touching the wall in 3:44.22, just 0.19 seconds behind gold-medal favorite Grant Hackett of Australia, who won the heat. Vanderkaay's time was the sixth-fastest among the 36 athletes to compete in the five heats. The final of the 400m freestyle will take place on Sunday morning.
Phelps opened his Olympic schedule by winning his heat in the 400-meter individual medley with an Olympic-record time of 4:07.82. His time was 0.44 seconds better than the previous record, which he set in the finals of the 400 IM four years ago in Athens. His heat in the 400m IM was the first of a possible 17 races for Phelps in Beijing. Next up for Phelps will be the 400 IM final Sunday morning.
| INDIVIDUAL | EVENT | RESULT |
| Michael Phelps (USA) | Men's 400m Individual Medley Heats | 1st, Heat 4 (4:07.82!^) |
| Peter Vanderkaay (USA) | Men's 400m Freestyle Heats | 2nd, Heat 5 (3:44.22^) |
* World Record
! Olympic Record
^ Qualified for finals
# Advanced to quarterfinal
