May 29, 2009

Cherry Hill, NJ - - Michigan State advanced two of its three boats directly to Saturday's semifinals in Friday racing at the NCAA National Championship regatta at Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill, NJ.

On the opening day of racing, the top three boats in each of three heats advance directly to the Saturday semifinals, withthe remaining boats sent to the repechage heats on Friday afternoon. The top three finishers from the repechage will make the semifinals, with the remaining boats relegated to the "C" final. Both eights avoided repechage racing, while the four failed to advance out of the Friday repechage heat and will race in the third-level final on Sunday.

"Neither of the eights today had what I would consider a great race," admitted head coach Matt Weise, "But, both did advance to the semifinals, so we will make some adjustments and I think we will see some better racing from both of the eights tomorrow."

The varsity eight easily finished third in its heat with Cal, Brown, Wisconsin, and Oregon State. MSU, Cal, and Brown were separated by just two seconds after the opening 500 meters, with MSU trailing Cal by just three seats. Cal and Brown engaged in a dogfight over the next 1000 meters, with Cal eventually pulling out to a full-length lead on Brown at the finish. MSU was just over a length behind Brown, but had nearly a length of open water over fourth-place Oregon State, with Wisconsin open water behind the Beavers.

In the other two heats, Stanford and Yale finished first and second in the opening heat, while Washington edged Harvard for the final semi spot by just two-tenths of a second. In the final varsity eight heat, Michigan seemed poised to finish either second or third, but caught a crab with 300 meters to go and finished fifth; Virginia, Princeton, and Clemson earned the top three finishes to advance to Saturday's semifinal.

The second varsity also advanced directly into the Saturday semi with a second-place finish in their morning heat. Brown jumped out to the lead at 500 meters, and held it to the finish; however, the contingent of Big Ten boats - the Spartans, Michigan, and Wisconsin - pushed throughout the courst to try to take a difinitive lead. MSU and UM kept the Badgers from moving on them throughout the race, and the two rivals pushed one another to the finish line, moving on Brown's lead in the final sprint. While Brown still held a half-length lead at the finish line, MSU had moved about four seats in the sprint and edged their archrival by four-tenths of a second.

The varsity four narrowly missed automatically qualifying for the semis, finishing two seats behind Harvard for the third place. Cal and MSU had been battling for the third spot through the first 1500 meters, but the Bears moved through Harvard and challenged Virginia in the sprint. In Friday afternoon's repechage heat, the Spartans never really got into the race, and finished sixth. They will race again on Sunday in the third-level final.

Varsity Eight:
(heat one): Stanford 6:27.60; Yale 6:32.30; Washington 6:34.60; Harvard 6:34.80; Ohio State 6:42.80
(heat two): Cal 6:29.40; Brown 6:32.80; Michigan State 6:40.40; Oregon State 6:46.60; Wisconsin 6:51.70
(heat three): Virginia 6:29.51; Princeton 6:31.49; Clemson 6:32.57; Southern Cal 6:40; Michigan 6:48.83; Dartmouth 7:04.79

Automatically advancing to semis: Stanford, Yale, Washington, Cal, Brown, Michigan State, Virginia, Princeton, Clemson.

Second Varsity Eight:
(heat one): Virginia 6:43.99; Washington 6:48.30; Ohio State 6:52.27; Oregon State 6:54.55; Harvard 6:58.62
(heat two): Cal 6:42.92; Yale 6:44.30; Stanford 6:48.42; Southern Cal 6:57.74; Princeton 7:01.74
(heat three): Brown 6:42.96; Michigan State 6:44.21; Michigan 6:44.41; Wisconsin 6:47.02; Clemson 7:04.17; Dartmouth 7:14.17

Automatically advancing to semis: Virginia, Washington, Ohio State, Cal, Yale, Stanford, Brown, Michigan State, Michigan

Varsity Four: (heat one): Virginia 7:31.29; Cal 7:33.94; Harvard 7:34.98; Michigan State 7:36.10; Princeton 7:55.80
(heat two): Ohio State 7:29.05; Clemson 7:30.49; Wisconsin 7:32.57; Southern Cal 7:39.21; Oregon State 7:41.72.
(heat three): Yale 7:29.83: Michigan 7:32.43; Washington 7:32.72; Stanford 7:42.36; Brown 7:48.75; Dartmouth 8:07.24

Automatically advancing to semis: Virginia, Cal, Harvard, Ohio State, Clemson, Wisconsin, Yale, Michigan, Washington