Tigers Successful on Day One of the NCAA Rowing Championships

May 29, 2009

NCAA Rowing Championship Links: – Live Schedule Results (includes heat sheets) – Live Mobile Minisite Schedule Results (includes heat sheets) – Live Streaming Video and Audio (Saturday)

– Live Streaming Video and Audio (Sunday)

Cherry Hill, NJ – The Clemson Tigers fared well on the first day of the NCAA Rowing Championships, with all three crews advancing to the semifinals on Saturday.  In the first race of the morning for the Tigers, the Varsity 8+ finished third in its heat with a time of 6:32.57.  Clemson led at the start, but fell behind in the second 500 meters.  The rest of the race remained competitive between five boats, but the Tigers were able to gain some momentum after recording the fastest time in the final 500 meters.  The race was close between ACC-foe Virginia, Princeton and Clemson in the last 500 meters, but the Cavaliers pulled away at the end to finish with a time of 6:29.51.  Princeton finished with a time of 6:31.49 to edge Clemson by just over a second.  The Tigers will race against Washington, Virginia, Brown, Stanford and Michigan on Saturday at 9:00 AM.In the Second Varsity 8+ race on Friday morning, Clemson finished fifth with a time of 7:04.14.  As a result of the fifth place finish, the crew participated in the repechage on Friday afternoon to earn a spot in the semifinals.  The Tigers raced well throughout, and made a great sprint in the final 200 meters to finish third with a time of 6:37.50.  Clemson finished just over two seconds behind winner Princeton to earn a spot in the semifinals.  The Tigers will face Washington, Michigan State, Cal, Stanford and Princeton at 9:45 tomorrow morning.The Varsity 4+ concluded the morning races for the Tigers with a second place finish in its heat.  The crew started out strong and took an early lead ahead of crews from Ohio State, Wisconsin, Southern Cal and Oregon.  Entering the final 500 meters, the Tigers were in second and briefly took the lead before being edged at out the finish line by Ohio State.  Clemson finished with a time of 7:30.49 and return to action tomorrow morning to compete in the semifinals at 10:00 AM.