Rowing: UVA’s Varsity Four headed to Grand Final at NCAA Championships

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

No. 8 Virginia’s Varsity Four qualified for Sunday’s grand final to highlight action at the NCAA Rowing Championship Saturday at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, N.J.

The Cavaliers’ Varsity Four (7:10.187) rowed to a third-place finish in today’s A/B semifinals, finishing behind Texas (7:07.819) and Princeton (7:09.013). Washington (7:11.489), Michigan (7:21.777) and Duke (7:33.615) rounded out the top six.

UVA’s Varsity Eight and Second Varsity Eight will compete in the petite finals after finishing fifth in its respective semifinal heats.

“There was great racing in an incredibly tight field in all three events and we are proud of the guts each crew showed,” Virginia associate head coach Kelsie Chaudoin said. “The four laid down an aggressive sprint to make it through to the grand final and we’re looking forward to all three crews racing for team points again tomorrow.”

The Cavaliers’ Varsity Eight placed fifth behind Stanford (6:10.993), Washington (6:14.455), Yale (6:17.955) and Michigan (6:19.119) with a time of 6:19.385. Brown (6:30.941) finished sixth.

UVA’s Second Varsity Eight finished fifth behind Washington (6:18.363), Texas (6:20.653), Princeton (6:23.439) and Brown (6:29.153) with a time of 6:32.377. SMU (6:36.939) placed sixth.

NCAA championship action concludes Sunday. Virginia’s first race will be the Varsity Four grand final at 9:36 a.m., followed by the Second Varsity Eight petite final (9:48 a.m.) and Varsity Eight petite final (10:12 a.m.). Live video streaming is available on NCAA.com.

SATURDAY A/B SEMIFINALS

Varsity Eight Heat Two

1. Stanford, 6:10.993, 2. Washington, 6:14.455, 3. Yale, 6:17.955, 4. Michigan, 6:19.119, 5. Virginia, 6:19.385, 6. Brown, 6:30.941

Second Varsity Eight Heat Two

1. Washington, 6:18.363, 2. Texas, 6:20.653, 3. Princeton, 6:23.439, 4. Brown, 6:29.153, 5. Virginia, 6:32.377, 6. SMU, 6:36.939

Varsity Four Heat Two

1. Texas, 7:07.819, 2. Princeton, 7:09.013, 3. Virginia, 7:10.187, 4. Washington, 7:11.489, 5. Michigan, 7:21.777, 6. Duke, 7:33.615

VIRGINIA LINEUPS

Varsity Eight: Coxswain: ViVi Van Ingen, Stroke: Kate Kelly, 7: Eva Frohnhofer, 6: Lauren Benedict, 5: Leia Till, 4: Jenna Hajji, 3: Larkin Brown, 2: Lily Jarrett, Bow: Elsa Hartman

Second Varsity Eight: Coxswain: Janet Conklin, Stroke: Lauren Jochims, 7: Paige Loh, 6: Catherine Williams, 5: Lauren Orr, 4: Riley Richardson, 3: Sarah Bradford, 2: Cillian Mullen, Bow: Sky Dahl

Varsity Four: Coxswain: Nora Grabcheski, Stroke: Sophia Coppola, 2: Meagan Goldsmith, 2: Kate McGee; Bow: Kelsey Gems