Video Recap

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The Big Red advanced the Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 boats to Saturday's semifinals at the 2012 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship, held today on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. Cornell's Second Varsity 8 also competed and will row again on Sunday in the Third Level Final.

"It was a really great day of racing for the Big Red,” said Hilary Gehman, the Staley Head Coach of Women's Rowing. “Our regular season schedule prepared us to race twice and all three boats performed well today. I am so proud of the entire team and look forward to tomorrow's semifinals!"

In the morning heats, the Varsity 8 placed fifth overall and went on to race in the afternoon's repechage. In the seven boat rep, Cornell placed second overall to earn a spot in the semifinals.

The Varsity 4 placed fourth in its morning heat before taking third in its seven boat rep to earn a spot in the semifinals.

The top three finishers from the two semifinal heats will advance to the Grand Final, while the next three finishers in each semifinal heat will advance to the Petite Final.

The Second Varsity 8 placed fourth in a great morning heat but placed fifth in the reps. As a result, they will go directly to the Third Level Final on Sunday where they will race for 13-16th place.

"We are all really excited about the teams racing and results so far,” said Liz Dennison, assistant women's rowing coach. “The athletes are approaching the weekend with great attitudes and intensity, and are excited to continue that mentality heading into the next round of racing."

The "spare pair" Shelly Tremaglio and Anna Payne also had an opportunity to race today and finished second in their race.

Varsity 8
Heat 2 Preliminaries
1. Michigan 6:38.48
2. USC 6:40.49
3. UCLA 6:41.93
4. Michigan State 6:46.80
5. Cornell 6:54.40

Reps
Varsity 8
1. Stanford 6:47.31
2. Cornell 6:50.28
3. Yale 6:51.20
4. Michigan State 6:51.55 
5. Brown 6:52.46
6. Wisconsin 6:54.30
7. Notre Dame 7:07.98

Varsity 4
Heat 1 Preliminaries
1. California 7:19.73
2. Princeton 7:23.28
3. Harvard 7:25.78
4. Cornell 7:27.36
5. Michigan State 7:36.70

Reps
1. Michigan 7:50.90
2. Notre Dame 7:51.50
3. Cornell 7:52.24
4. Brown 7:58.00
5. Stanford 8:02.48
6. USC 8:06.66
7. Michigan State 8:07.05

Second Varsity 8
Heat 3 Preliminaries
1. Ohio State 6:43.97
2. Princeton 6:45.95
3. Washington 6:47.56
4. Cornell 6:53.47
5. Harvard 6:59.07
6. Michigan State 7:03.34

Reps
1. USC 7:00.09
2. Wisconsin 7:00.87
3. Stanford 7:01.06
4. Notre Dame 7:01.08
5. Cornell 7:04.42
6. Harvard 7:05.55
7. Michigan State 7:16.24