Gainesville, Ga. – The No. 8 California women's rowing team had to compete twice in the opening day of the NCAA Championships at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, on Friday as inclement weather forced both the heats and semifinal rounds to be held the same day.
 
The Golden Bears' first and second varsity eights and first varsity four all placed in the top three of their opening heats to advance to the A/B semifinals which took place later in the afternoon. The Bears' first varsity eight and first varsity four narrowly missed out on qualifying for their respective grand finals, finishing in fourth place in their semifinal races. The second varsity four finished fifth in its semifinal race.
 
All finals races will take place on Sunday (schedule below).
 
In its heat, the first varsity eight got out even with Texas for the early lead over the first 150 meters. The Bears and Longhorns separated themselves from the pack by open water by the 500-meter mark and were still even with each other. Texas was able to pull ahead by a half boat over the third 500 meters with Cal firmly in second place by two boats of open water. The Bears finished comfortably in second place – five seconds ahead of third place Ohio State.
 
In the first varsity eight semifinal, it was a tight race with five boats all within a few seats of each other in the opening 250 meters and Cal just a few seats behind third place. Halfway through the race, Cal was fighting for third-place position with Virginia and Washington as all three boats were just a few seats apart. The Bears were even with the Huskies and just two seats behind the Cavaliers over the last 250 meters but couldn't make up ground to take the third qualifying spot for the grand final. Cal finished just two seconds back for fourth place and just a fraction of a second faster than Washington.
 
In its heat, the second varsity eight went out with the lead pack and was even with Brown in second place over the first 250 meters and was able to take a three-seat lead in second place by the 500-meter mark. The Bears continued to extend their lead for second place over the third 500 meters and were able to maintain contact with Texas. Brown, however, put together a surge over the final 500 meters and overtook Cal who finished in third place.
 
In the second varsity eight semifinal, Cal fell into fifth place after the first 250 meters. The Bears had their work cut out for them as they remained in fifth place halfway through with a bit of open water behind the third-place position. Cal made a push but was unable to overcome the deficit and finished in fifth place.
 
In its heat, the first varsity four jumped out with Texas to form the lead pack early. Halfway through the race, the Bears stayed connected with the Longhorns and built an open-water lead for second place. Texas surged ahead to take firm control of first place in the third 500 meters, while Cal was holding off Yale by just a bit of open water for second place. The Bears were able to withstand a surge from the Bulldogs and finish in second place.
 
In the first varsity four semifinal, Cal jumped out with the lead pack early with Tennessee and Stanford just a few strokes in. The Bears fell into third place after 250 meters with a half-boat lead ahead of fourth-place Virginia. The Cavaliers made a push and pulled even with the Bears at the 500-meter mark. Virginia continued to surge and pulled three seats ahead of Cal halfway through the race. The Bears were unable to make a move on the Cavaliers throughout the remainder of the race and finished in fourth place.
 
Sunday Schedule (All times PT)
6:24 a.m. – V4+ Petite final: Miami, Princeton, California, Brown, Syracuse, Yale
6:48 a.m. – 2V8+ Petite final: Miami, Brown, Washington, Syracuse, California, Michigan
7:12 a.m. – V8+ Petite final: Rutgers, Brown, California, Syracuse, Washington, Ohio St.
 
Heat Results
 
V8+
1. Texas - 05:57.958
2. California - 06:02.932
3. Ohio St - 06:07.454
4. UCF - 06:07.472
5. Boston - 06:26.816
 
2V8+
1. Texas - 06:03.351
2. Brown - 06:08.889
3. California - 06:12.201
4. Columbia - 06:17.301
5. Northeastern - 06:27.941
 
V4+
1. Texas - 06:44.878
2. California - 06:50.488
3. Yale - 06:52.212
4. Michigan - 06:57.686
5. Boston - 07:21.300
 
Semifinal Results
 
V8+
1. Tennessee - 06:04.129
2. Virginia - 06:05.573
3. Princeton - 06:05.681
4. California - 06:07.145
5. Washington - 06:07.279
6. Rutgers - 06:08.048
 
2V8+
1. Texas - 06:06.910
2. Virginia - 06:09.522
3. Tennessee - 06:10.058
4. Washington - 06:12.110
5. California - 06:16.114
6. Miami - 06:27.126
 
V4+
1. Stanford - 06:46.090
2. Tennessee - 06:53.354
3. Virginia - 06:57.084
4. California - 07:02.236
5. Syracuse - 07:10.778
6. Miami - 07:24.968
 
Lineups
V8+
Coxswain: Kira Obsitnik
8. Olivia Roth
7. Madeline Cox
6. Minou Bouman
5. Ella Wheeler
4. Julia Irmler
3. Lily Abbott
2. Star Miller
1. Lotta van Westreenen
 
2V8+
Coxswain: Emily Kendall
8. Vittoria Pastorelli
7. Teuntje Mollee
6. Zara Hoadley
5. Allegra O'Sullivan
4. Giulia Bosio
3. Lola Crampin
2. Alexandra Pearson
1. Charlotte Johnson
 
V4+
Coxswain: Julia Fullington
4. Vivi Spitz
3. Annie Brown
2. Lily Pember
1. Chloe Frushtick
 
STAY POSTED
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