June 5, 2008

CAMDEN, N.J. - Boston University men's crew's second varsity eight advanced to the A-B Semifinal to highlight the Terriers' first day of competition at the 2008 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships held on the Cooper River.

All five of BU's boats raced in the morning heats under overcast skies and cool temperatures. The varsity eight went off first, in the fourth heat. The Terriers got off the line just a seat behind Navy, while Wisconsin and Northeastern pulled ahead. Through the 500m mark, Wisco and NU stayed in front, and it was a three-boat race for third between BU, Michigan and Navy before Michigan took over the spot. Boston University lost its duel with the Midshipmen and finished the heat fifth.

The JV eight was up next, also in the fourth heat of its event. Washington got away first, taking a two to three seat lead on level BU and Northeastern crews. The Terriers rowed a 43 at the 250m to move to just one seat back of the West Coast Huskies. But NU started to move away and had a length on BU, Syracuse and Georgetown by the 850m mark. In the third 500 meters both the Hoyas and the Orange moved ahead of the Terriers, and despite a late push by BU on Syracuse, the JV also placed fifth in its heat.

It was an even start for the freshman eight, with Princeton, Yale and Harvard moving ahead early. BU stayed in fourth through the first 500 meters, but rowed in front of the Terriers and held an open-water advantage by 1000m, which it retained through the finish.

The two varsity fours were the last BU boats to row in the morning. Yale "A" had a wide-open lead on the rest of the field in the straight four after some of the boats suffered steering issues off the line. Georgetown, BU and Yale "B" were neck and neck through 450 meters before Yale's "B" boat claimed third behind Yale "A" and Georgetown at the 750m mark. Those three boats had open water on the rest of the pack, leaving MIT, BU and Minnesota to battle it out for fourth. MIT nearly hit a buoy in the third 500 as the Terriers slid into fourth and crossed the finish line there.

Due to a large number of entries, the coxed four was contested as a time trial, much like a head race but with boats starting in two alternating lanes. BU went off sixth but ended the trial 23rd.

The weather changed dramatically in the afternoon. Rowers faced bright sunlight and considerably warmer temperatures as the freshman eight repechages began at 3:00 p.m. BU's freshman eight rowed a solid race but came in third behind Northeastern and Georgetown.

The JV eight came off the start second two seats behind a Columbia crew that was rowing a 45; the Terriers had a one-seat advantage over George Washington. Rowing a 36, BU moved level with the Lions and took a seat lead by 300 meters and held a 1/4 length edge on the fading Columbia crew by 500 meters. The Terriers continued to row a steady 36 to increase the lead to 1/3 length around the 600m mark. Boston University made a strong move at 1000 meters and cruised from there to win the rep and advance to the A-B semifinal on Friday.

The varsity was the last race of the day. BU and Penn were even off the line in third behind Dartmouth and Yale. The Terriers easily took a 1/2 length lead on the Quakers as the two Ivys duked it out for first. But by 500 meters, Boston U took over second and was just two seats behind Yale. In the second 500m, Yale picked up its rate to a 37 to take a four-seat lead, but BU answered by rowing 38-39. However, the Bulldogs kept moving through the 1000m mark and built a length advantage on BU and Dartmouth, who had come back by 1250 meters. The Terriers made a late charge in the last 500, rowing a 37, but they couldn't quite catch the Elis and finished second.

Morning Heats

Varsity Eight - Heat 4: Wisconsin 5:51.06, Northeastern 5:51.99, Navy 5:53.30, Michigan 5:55.34, Boston U 6:03.56, George Washington 6:16.45

JV Eight - Heat 4: Washington 5:59.40, Northeastern, 6:03.66, Georgetown 6:07.82, Syracuse 6:11.91, Boston U 6:14.30, Holy Cross 6:21.55

Freshman Eight - Heat 4: Yale "A" 6:02.20, Princeton 6:07.50, Cornell 6:10.74, Hobart 6:11.71, Boston U 6:19.94, Dartmouth 6:20.45

Straight Four - Heat 2: Yale "A" 6:24.47, Yale "B" 6:32.19, Georgetown 6:42.49, Boston U 6:48.70, Minnesota 6:51.31, MIT 7:02.35

Coxed Four - Time Trial: Placed 23rd in 6:06.60

Afternoon Repechages

Freshman Eight - Rep 2: Northeastern 6:10.31, Georgetown 6:15.29, Boston U 6:22.12, MIT 6:28.65

JV Eight - Rep 3: Boston U 6:07.63, George Washington 6:12.41, Columbia 6:18.51, Colgate 6:24.92

Varsity Eight - Rep 2: Yale 6:02.64, Boston U 6:06.21, Dartmouth 6:09.05, Penn 6:20.31