May 27, 2007

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - The Golden Bears, who finished no higher than second place and fell short of winning a third consecutive national title, took seventh place overall at the NCAA Championships. Yale won the varsity eight title, while Brown won the team championship.

In the varsity eight third final, California had a great race. The Bears led wire-to-wire to win the race, securing 13th place in the regatta. UCLA, Washington and Central Florida trailed the Bears by four, five and 16 seconds respectively.

The California second varsity eight lost in the grand final to Minnesota. The Bears started the race slowly, but progressively moved into second place. Cal made a late surge at the Gophers, but it wasn't enough the overcome the lead. Minnesota (6:56.39) defeated California (6:59.15), Brown (6:59.71), Virginia, Ohio State and Washington to win the second varsity eight national title.

In the varsity four grand final, Virginia ran away with the championship. After 500 meters Virginia had a slight lead over Brown, and Cal was well behind in sixth place. Virginia outraced the entire field, finishing nearly ten seconds ahead of second place. Despite Cal's bad start they fought back into the race, rowing faster than every boat in the field, except Virginia, over the final 1500 meters. The Golden Bears surge from last place was not enough to overcome Brown, as Cal finished third behind the Brown Bears.

2007 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships
Results - Day Three, May 27
Melton Hill Lake; Oak Ridge, TN

Final Points Standings

1. Brown 58 2. Virginia 54 3. Ohio State 52 4. Yale 51 5. USC 48 6. Minnesota 47 7. California 38 8. Princeton 34 9. Tennessee 29 10. Washington 25 11. Harvard 19 12. Notre Dame 13 Varsity Eight Grand Final (Places 1-6)
1. Yale, 6:37.08; 2. Ohio State, 6:38.77; 3. USC, 6:39.45; 4. Brown, 6:39.55; 5. Virginia, 6:41.50; 6. Princeton, 6:45.38

Varsity Eight Petite Final (Places 7-12)
1. Minnesota, 6:43.53; 2. Dartmouth, 6:43.95; 3. Tennessee, 6:44.32; 4. Stanford, 6:45.71; 5. Harvard, 6:49.16; 6. Notre Dame, 6:51.04

Varsity Eight Third Final (Places 13-16)
1. California, 6:47.40; 2. UCLA, 6:51.55; 3. Washington, 6:52.94; 4. Central Florida, 7:03.18

Second Varsity Eight Grand Final (Places 1-6)
1. Minnesota, 6:56.39; 2. California, 6:59.15; 3. Brown, 6:59.71; 4. Virginia, 7:01.52; 5. Ohio State, 7:08.52; 6. Washington, 7:11.29

Second Varsity Eight Petite Final (Places 7-12)
1. USC, 6:58.34; 2. Tennessee, 6:59.30; 3. Yale, 7:01.10; 4. Harvard, 7:06.34; 5. Princeton, 7:11.15; 6. Notre Dame, 7:16.16

Varsity Four Grand Final (Places 1-6)
1. Virginia, 7:35.03; 2. Brown, 7:45.54; 3. California, 7:47.87; 4. Princeton, 7:50.90; 5. Washington, 7:53.75; 6. Yale, 7:54.41

Varsity Four Petite Final (Places 7-12)
1. USC, 7:44.06; 2. Minnesota, 7:49.31; 3. Tennessee, 7:54.18; 4. Ohio State, 7:56.02; 5. Notre Dame, 7:56.34; 6. Harvard, 7:58.91