RALEIGH, N.C. – The No. 6 California women's rowing team cruised through its preliminary races on Day 1 of the ACC Rowing Championship on Lake Wheeler in Raleigh, North Carolina, to advance all five boats to their respective Grand Finals. The Golden Bears' third varsity eight and both varsity fours won their heats, while the first and second varsity eights took second place in their races.
 
Cal was one of four teams to advance all five boats to the finals, joining No. 3 Stanford, No. 8 Virginia and No. 10 Syracuse as they chase the conference crown.
 
In the first race of the morning, Cal's third varsity eight pulled to the front of the field right off the blocks and was battling with North Carolina through the first 1000 meters. The Bears had a slight advantage over the Tar Heels as the two crews broke away from the rest of their opponents. Cal had about half a length over UNC as the final 500 meters ensued and maintained its lead as it crossed the finish line about three seats ahead of the Tar Heels with a time of 6:34.620.
 
In the next race, Virginia pulled out to the front at the start of the varsity eight race, but Cal maintained contact with the Cavaliers as they hit the 1000-meter mark. The Bears then made a big push to pull away from Miami in third place and close in on Virginia. There was crossover between the boats as they crossed the finish line, with Cal posting a time of 6:06.740, two seconds behind Virginia.
 
The Bears' second varsity eight was in third place behind Virginia and North Carolina as the crews pulled away from the blocks in the third race of the day. Cal made a move to overtake UNC at the midway point of the race, settling into second place behind Virginia out front as the third 500 meters approached. The Bears finished the course in 6:22.280 to take second place.
 
Cal and Virginia were neck-and-neck for the entirety of the second varsity four race, but the Bears had the slight advantage over the Cavaliers as the crews moved down the stretch. Despite a strong push from Virginia as the final 500 meters ensued, Cal maintained its composure and held off the Cavaliers to finish the race in 7:03.48 and win the heat by under one second.
 
In the final race of the day, Cal's second varsity four took the early lead. The Bears charged hard down the course, fending off Virginia behind them in second place. There was overlap between the two boats as they hit the 1500-meter mark, but Cal maintained its advantage and finished in first place with a time of 7:12.410, nearly one and a half seconds ahead of the Cavaliers.  
 
Saturday's finals will begin at 5:05 a.m. PT/8:05 a.m. ET. The races will be shown live on ACC Network Extra, and live results can be tracked here.
 
RESULTS
V8+ (Heat 2)
1. Virginia – 6:04.100
2. California – 6:06.740
3. Miami – 6:17.640
4. Clemson – 6:21.480
5. Louisville – 6:29.850
6. Notre Dame – 6:31.630
 
2V8+ (Heat 2)
1. Virginia – 6:14.230
2. California – 6:22.280
3. Duke – 6:24.060
4. North Carolina – 6:26.390
5. Notre Dame – 6:37.550
6. Louisville – 6:38.020
 
3V8+ (Heat 2)
1. California – 6:34.620
2. North Carolina – 6:35.370
3. Miami – 6:47.730
4. Louisville – 6:51.480
5. Duke – 6:57.040
6. SMU – 7:11.590
 
V4+ (Heat 2)
1. California – 7:03.480
2. Virginia – 7:04.190
3. North Carolina – 7:13.970
4. Miami – 7:17.660
5. Clemson – 7:24.700
6. Louisville – 7:30.530
 
2V4+ (Heat 2)
1. California – 7:12.410
2. Virginia – 7:13.870
3. North Carolina – 7:18.530
4. Duke – 7:22.780
5. Clemson – 7:36.700
6. Louisville – 7:44.200
 
LINEUPS
V8+ 
Coxswain: Kira Obsitnik 
8. Olivia Roth 
7. Madeline Cox 
6. Minou Bouman 
5. Ella Wheeler 
4. Star Rose Miller 
3. Lily Abbott 
2. Julia Irmler 
1. Lotta van Westreenen 
 
2V8+ 
Coxswain: Emily Kendall 
8. Vittoria Pastorelli 
7. Allegra O'Sullivan 
6. Giulia Bosio 
5. Bonnie Mollee 
4. Zara Hoadley 
3. Lola Crampin 
2. Alexandra (Alex) Pearson 
1. Charlotte Johnson 
 
3V8+ 
Coxswain: Saira Mitchell 
8. Gabrielle Jennings 
7. Eve Barrancotto 
6. Claire Banks 
5. Kate Nixon 
4. Beatrice Knight 
3. Kylee Harrington 
2. Frieda Cramer 
1. Charlotte Hill 
 
V4+ 
Coxswain: Julia Fullington 
4. Vivi Spitz 
3. Annie Brown 
2. Lily Pember 
1. Chloe Frushtick 
 
2V4+ 
Coxswain: Samantha Jaffe 
4. Francesca Hammerer 
3. Pippa Jamieson 
2. Alexandra Ausfahl 
1. Kylie Landers 
 
STAY POSTED
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