RESULTS | Coach Bohrer Interview | Updated Sunday Schedule | Live Broadcast

West Windsor, N.J. - Highlighted by the second varsity eight boat advancing to the grand finals, the Boston University men's rowing team completed day 2 of the IRA National Championship Regatta on Mercer Lake on Saturday.

The second varsity eight boat, coxed by freshman MacKenzie Hart and stroked by classmate Max Ponsen, advanced to Sunday's grand final by finishing in one of the coveted top three positions in their tough early morning semifinals race.

The 2V semi started tight with all six boats within 2 seats of each other through the first 500 meters. Cal and BU began to separate from the pack over the second 500 meters with Brown chasing. At 1,000 meters, BU settled into third place behind Cal and Brown but ahead of Harvard. The Crimson made a desperate run towards the finish but couldn't catch the Terriers who finished with a time 5:43.08, a boat length ahead of fourth-place Harvard (5:44.66). Brown (5:39.93), Cal (5:39.95) and BU moved on the grand final while Harvard, Cornell (5:46.79) and Penn (6:01.08) all headed to the petite final.

"I thought the 2V did a great job today," said men's head rowing coach Thomas Bohrer. "They've had some really good consistency all year and I know they will be really fired up tomorrow. We look forward to seeing how they do in the grand final."

In the first race of the day, BU's third varsity eight boat competed in the semifinals race, again with the top three boats advancing to the grand finals. BU's 3V, coxed by freshman Justin Goucher and stroked by freshman TJ Ruijgh, faced off against a tough field of Washington, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell and Dartmouth. After several early lead changes, Washington separated from the pack followed by Harvard and Princeton with BU chasing the Tigers for the coveted third spot. BU closed on third place toward the final 500 meters but could not make up enough ground and finished fourth with a time of (5:51.60) ahead of Cornell (5:55.44) and Dartmouth (5:58.70). The 3V will compete in tomorrow's petite final while Washington (5:42.09), Harvard (5:44.53) and Princeton (5:44.92) moved on to the grand final.

BU's first varsity eight boat, coxed by senior Lauren Harvey and stroked by sophomore Aleksandar Marinkovski, raced in its semifinals race against California, Princeton, Brown, Navy and Penn. The BU 1V battled for third with Navy and Brown over the first 1000 meters but couldn't settle into the top three. BU finished fifth with a time of 5:39.96 ahead of Penn (5:42.83) and will compete in the 1V petite final on Sunday. Cal (5:30.52), Princeton (5:32.70) and Brown (5:33.15) finished in the top three spots and moved on to the grand final.

The Terriers' varsity four boat raced last on Saturday and drew a tough field against Cal, Washington, Harvard, Brown and Marietta. Washington, Cal and Harvard finished in the top three spots to advance to the grand finals as Marietta, Brown and BU finished in the bottom three and will race in tomorrow's V4 petite final.

"We still have more work to do to finish as high as we can before we head home," added Bohrer. "I think everyone in the petite will be gunning to win it and place as high as they can."

UPDATED SUNDAY SCHEDULE

RESULTS

LINEUPS
1v
Cox - Lauren Harvey, 8 - Aleksandar Marinkovski, 7 Fionnan McQuillan-Tolan, 6 - Matt Maginnis, 5 - Luka Miladinovic, 4 - Mackenzie Copp, 3 -- JP Aftring, 2 - Oliver Salonna, 1 - Vass Ragoussis

2v
Cox - MacKenzie Hart, 8 - Max Ponsen, 7 - Uros Marinkovic, 6 -- Kep Edwards, 5 - John Carter, 4 - Spencer Haas, 3 - Mike Kapp, 2 - Tomas Weaver, 1 - Alex Dillon

3v
Cox - Justin Goucher, 8 - TJ Ruijgh, 7 - Dan Marconi, 6 - Gregor Dierks, 5 - Will Aftring, 4 - Jacob Barker, 3 -- Austin Bald, 2 -- Drew Miller, 1 - Jamie Odgers

V4+
Cox - Carly Skehan, 4 - Tate Gill, 3 - Dan Relle, 2 - Nolan Solis, 1 - Cam Pizzo