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May 26, 2007
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OAK RIDGE, Tenn–The Virginia women’s rowing team’s varsity eight crew finished third in its semifinal heat at the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships on Saturday (May 26) on Melton Hill Lake and qualified for Sunday’s (May 27) Grand Final in that event.
UVa’s varsity eight joins the Cavaliers’ second varsity eight and varsity four in Grand Finals on Sunday. Virginia’s second varsity eight and varsity four crews advanced to Grand Finals in those competitions by virtue of winning their heats on Friday (May 25).
Virginia and Brown are the only teams with boats in all three Grand Finals on Sunday.
UVa’s varsity eight had a time of 6:28.64 in its semifinal heat to finish behind Southern California (6:27.29) and Ohio State (6:28.28) in a very competitive race. Notre Dame finished fourth (6:29.56) followed by Tennessee (6:33.57) and Stanford (6:40.16). Virginia led the race after 1,500 meters before Southern California and Ohio State moved ahead of the Cavaliers in the last 500 meters. Southern California and Ohio State also advance to Sunday’s Grand Final.
In the other varsity eight semifinal race on Saturday, Yale finished first with a time of 6:22.93 followed by Brown (6:25.50), Princeton (6:27.25), Harvard (6:27.62), Dartmouth (6:30.47) and Minnesota (6:30.72). The Yale, Brown and Princeton varsity eight crews join Southern California, Ohio State and Virginia in Sunday’s Grand Final.
Virginia’s second varsity eight boat competes against Brown, California, Minnesota, Ohio State and Washington in the Grand Final on Sunday, while UVa’s varsity four competes against Brown, California, Princeton, Washington and Yale in the Grand Final in that competition.
The Grand Finals determine places 1-6 in each of the three competitions.
This is the 11th NCAA Women’s Rowing Championship and Virginia has competed in 10 of the 11 events. UVa’s best team finishes are second place finishes in 1999 and 2005.