Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – No. 8 Stanford women's rowing's varsity eight clocked the fastest time of all 22 boats in the field, winning in its heat Friday morning and advancing to the semifinals during the opening day of the NCAA Championships at Lake Mercer.
The Cardinal's top boat advanced to Saturday's A/B Semifinal along with the varsity four, which finished second in its heat Friday morning, and the second varsity eight. The second varsity eight was edged out by Texas for the top two spots in its heat but won its repechage heat Friday afternoon to advance to the A/B Semifinal on Saturday.
Stanford's varsity eight took little time pushing its bow ball ahead of the field, en route to its heat victory. The Cardinal opened a two-seat advantage on second-place Texas in the first 250 meters. Stanford extended its lead to a length just before the midpoint of the course and remained a length ahead of the field at the finish to advance to the A/B Semifinal. Stanford completed the course in 6:07.415, ahead of second-place Texas (6:10.545) and third-place Indiana (6:18.888).
The Cardinal varsity four maneuvered into second place of its heat and held its position throughout the remainder of the course to advance to the A/B Semifinals. Stanford was three quarters of a length back of leader Michigan at the 750-meter mark. The Cardinal slowly took water away from the Wolverines near the middle of the course, before Michigan extended its advantage back to three quarters of a length over the final 1,000 meters. Michigan took the heat with a time of 7:02.466, while Stanford recorded a time of 7:04.614 for second place and Wisconsin was third with a time of 7:08.237.
In what may have been the closest race of the first day of the championship regatta, Michigan, Stanford and Texas were locked in a tight battle throughout the course in the fourth heat of the second varsity eight. The Cardinal moved to second early on, just a couple seats back of leader Michigan. By 750 meters, Stanford had pulled to just one seat back of the Wolverines for the lead. As the three boats, which had separated themselves from the remainder of the field, headed to the finish, Stanford and Michigan battled for the lead with Texas a half-length back of the Cardinal in third. Texas made a move to pull level with the Cardinal entering the final 500 meters. In an extremely close finish, the Wolverines edged Stanford for the second spot and advanced straight into the A/B Semifinal on Saturday. Michigan won the heat with a time of 6:18.479. Texas (6:20.749) and Stanford (6:21.435) finished within a second of each other for second and third, respectively.
The Cardinal opened a four-seat lead on the field and won by a length in its repechage heat Friday afternoon with a time of 6:26.413 to advance to the A/B Semifinals.
Saturday's varsity eight A/B Semifinal will begin at 5:48 a.m. PT. The second varsity eight A/B Semifinal will begin at 6:36 a.m. PT on Saturday. The varsity four A/B Semifinal will begin at 7:24 a.m. PT.
NCAA Championships Results
| Place |
Varsity Eight |
Time |
| 1. |
Stanford |
6:07.415 |
| 2. |
Texas |
6:10.545 |
| 3. |
Indiana |
6:18.888 |
| 4. |
Syracuse |
6:20.965 |
| 5. |
Northeastern |
6:22.905 |
| 6. |
Jacksonville |
6:51.743 |
| Place |
Second Varsity Eight |
Time |
| 1. |
Michigan |
6:18.479 |
| 2. |
Texas |
6:20.749 |
| 3. |
Stanford |
6:21.435 |
| 4. |
Iowa |
6:38.717 |
| 5. |
UCF |
6:54.625 |
| 6. |
Massachusetts |
7:05.232 |
| Place |
Varsity Four |
Time |
| 1. |
Michigan |
7:02.466 |
| 2. |
Stanford |
7:04.614 |
| 3. |
Wisconsin |
7:08.237 |
| 4. |
Indiana |
7:30.371 |
| 5. |
Navy |
7:37.997 |
| 6. |
Jacksonville |
8:06.944 |
Varsity Eight
Second Varsity Eight
Varsity Four