Drexel University
Dad Vail Regatta
Dragons Send Four Boats to Semifinals in First Day of 2008 Dad Vail Regatta
5/9/2008 12:40:00 PM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
Philadelphia - The Drexel men's and women's varsity eight boats each placed second in its preliminary heat to earn a spot in Saturday's semifinals at the 2008 Dad Vail Regatta. The Dragons also earned semifinal berths in the men's novice eight and men's junior varsity eight as Drexel sent four of its five boats entered in the biggest collegiate regatta in the United States to semifinal action on Saturday.
The Drexel men's varsity eight took second place in the fifth of six heats as the Dragons clocked a time of 5:52.56. Grand Valley won the heat with a time of 5:49.31. Third-place finisher, Michigan State, finished the course at 5:58.10. Johns Hopkins will join the Spartans in a repachage race after finishing fourth with a time of 6:05.01. Army took fifth place at 6:06.56.
In the second of seven heats in women's varsity eight action, Cal-Davis pulled away from the field for a 13-second victory to earn its spot in Saturday's semifinal but all eyes were on the battle for second place. The Dragons snatched their semifinal berth by surging past Santa Clara over the final few hundred meters to take second place. Drexel's time of 6:41.81 sent the Dragons into Saturday's action while Santa Clara will have to earn its way into Saturday racing through a repachage race later today.
The men's junior varsity eight took third place as the Dragons edged Lehigh to take the final semifinal berth of the preliminary heat with a time of 6:01.60. The men's novice boat was also impressive as the boat crossed the line at 6:06.20, nearly 14 seconds faster than fourth-place Minnesota to earn the Dragons another semifinal appearance.
The men's varsity eight will compete in the second of three semifinals on Saturday at 11:18 a.m. as the Dragons will face Santa Clara, Jacksonville and Grand Valley along with a pair of teams that qualified through repachage races. The top two finishers in each semifinal will advance to the grand final while third and fourth place finishers will compete in the petite final.
The women's varsity eight will compete in the third of three semifinals on Saturday at 11:06 a.m. as the Dragons will face San Diego, Buffalo, Saint Mary's and a pair of repachage qualifiers. The top two finishers in each semifinal will advance to the grand final while third and fourth place finishers will compete in the petite final.
The men's novice eight will compete against Delaware, Lehigh, Marietta and Johns Hopkins in a 7:57 a.m. semifinal on Saturday morning. Drexel's men's junior varsity eight will compete at 9:16 a.m. against Jacksonville, Bucknell, Colgate, Temple and Saint Joseph's in another semifinal. The top two finishers in each race will advance to the grand final.
Visit www.drexeldragons.com throughout the 2008 Dad Vail Regatta for updates and complete results.
