On to the Semifinals

SARASOTA, Fla. – Highlighted by a heat win for the varsity eight, No. 5 Stanford advanced all three of its boats directly into the A/B semifinals with strong performances Friday morning on the opening day of the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park.

Due to impending inclement weather in the Sarasota area, the NCAA Championships will now conclude on Saturday. The varsity eight A/B semifinal will be at 4:38 a.m. PT, the second varsity eight A/B semifinal will be at 4:46 a.m. PT and the varsity four A/B semifinal will be at 5:10 a.m. PT. Finals will be contested in the afternoon. Check @StanfordRowing for updated schedules and results throughout the day on Saturday. 
 
The varsity eight led its heat from start to finish, opening a deck advantage on the field in the first 250 meters. The Cardinal took a three-seat lead over Iowa after 500 meters and stretched it to a half a length lead by the midpoint of the course. Stanford continued its pace through the finish, winning the heat by a little more than a length over the rest of the field. The No. 2 seed in the varsity eight, Stanford posted a time of 6:22.739, ahead of second-place Iowa (6:26.997) and third-place USC (6:31.152). The Cardinal recorded the fifth-best overall time among all the varsity eight heats Friday.

Varsity eight wins its heat by a little more than a length to advance straight into the #NCAARow A/B semifinal tomorrow. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/MeBjP6qJWn

— Stanford Women's Rowing (@StanfordRowing) May 25, 2018

The second varsity eight battled with California throughout its heat, with both Pac-12 boats securing a spot in Saturday's A/B semifinals. The Bears took a two-seat lead on the seventh-seeded Cardinal after 250 meters, with Wisconsin a seat back of Stanford. Stanford began to pull away from Wisconsin, creating open water between the boats just past the midpoint of the course. With second already secured, Stanford began to take water away from Cal towards the finish but could not catch the Bears. Cal won the heat with a time of 6:31.505, while Stanford placed second with a time of 6:33.335 and Wisconsin finished third with a time of 6:40.165.

Second varsity eight finishes second in its heat to advance straight into tomorrow's A/B semifinal. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/9Rac9W7cra

— Stanford Women's Rowing (@StanfordRowing) May 25, 2018

The varsity four battled with Brown early on for a coveted spot straight into the A/B semifinals. With Washington ahead of the field by open water, it came down to ninth-seeded Stanford and eighth-seeded Brown for the final spot directly into Saturday's top-level semifinals. Behind by as much as a three quarters of a length on Brown at the midpoint of the course, Stanford made its move near the end and surged past the Bears during the final sprint. The Cardinal pulled level with Brown with about 500 meters remaining and continued its momentum from there, taking an open-water advantage over the Bears at the finish to secure second place in the heat. The Huskies finished first with a time of 7:06.045, with Stanford (7:18.708) and Brown (7:23.533) rounding out the top three in the heat.     

Varsity four sprints to the finish to capture second by open water and advance straight into tomorrow's A/B semifinals. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/KxolqlukiT

— Stanford Women's Rowing (@StanfordRowing) May 25, 2018

For full results of all the races at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships, go to NCAA.com/liveresults.  

Varsity Eight

Second Varsity Eight

Varsity Four