May 25, 2012

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - NCAA Championships Central | Full Results

The top-ranked California women's rowing team opened the NCAA Championships Friday at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., with all three boats advancing to the semifinals. The varsity four and the junior varsity eight boats picked up wins in their first-day heats.

In the varsity four, the Golden Bears garnered the win with a time of 7:19.73 to second-place Princeton's 7:23.28. Harvard came in third at 7:25.78. Cal boasted the second-best time amongst all three heats. Virginia posted the day's top time in its heat at 7:16.7. With Friday's victory, the Bears' varsity four boat remained undefeated in 2012.

The varsity eight took second in its heat with Ohio State beating the Bears to the finish line, 6:49.85-6:52.19. The loss snaps the Bears' varsity eight winning streak at six, and this was also the first time any Cal boat had been defeated since April 15. Cal topped third-place Princeton by just over a second. Just like in the varsity four, Virginia tallied the day's top time in this event at 6:37.03.

In the junior varsity eight, the Bears took first in the heat, clocking a time of 6:52.49, with Pac-12 foe UCLA taking second at 6:54.5. Ohio State posted the best time of the day at 6:43.97.

The national championships continue on Saturday and conclude with the grand finals on Sunday.

2012 NCAA Championships Day One

Varsity Eight Heat 3
1. Ohio State 6:49.85, 2. California 6:52.19, 3. Princeton 6:53.48
Cal lineup: Rachel Ersted (cox), Michelle Leason, Agatha Nowinski, Elise Etem, Paparangi Hipango, Erica Rippe, Rosie Popa, Clair Premzic, Maggie Simpson (bow)

Junior Varsity Eight Heat 1
1. California 6:52.49, 2. UCLA 6:54.5, 3. Brown 6:55.23
Cal lineup: Ingvild Ronningen, Bridget Sullivan (bow)

Varsity Four Heat 1
1. California 7:19.73, 2. Princeton 7:23.28, 3. Harvard 7:25.78
Cal lineup: Lynn Anderson (cox), Danielle Riggs, Allison Declercq, Tanya Wolfram, Caroline Rosetti (bow)