Gonzaga University
IRA National Championships
Men's Crew Advances Two Boats To IRA Semi's
6/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Crew
June 2, 2005
CAMDEN, NJ - Gonzaga University men's crew advanced two boats into Friday's semifinals as the Bulldogs pulled off two first-place finishes during opening day action at the 2005 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships at Cooper River in Camden, NJ. Gonzaga's varsity 4+ won its morning heat to advance while the freshmen 4+ finished second in morning racing before winning its afternoon repechage.
Gonzaga's varsity 4+ covered the 2,000 meter course in a time of 6:52.91 to win the third of four morning heat races. The Bulldogs pulled off the line even with all boats and raced Harvard University for the lead over the first 1,000 meters. Gonzaga made a move with 700 meters remaining and defeated the Harvard boat by six-seconds, Harvard crossing the line at 6:58.94. The University of Wisconsin was third at 7:04.95 followed by the University of Minnesota, UCLA and Dartmouth College. Also winning their morning heat races were Stanford University (6:46.95), Hobart College (6:48.12) and the U.S. Naval Academy (6:46.64).
Gonzaga's varsity 4+ will return to the water on Friday afternoon at 1:36 when they will race in the first of two semifinals to determine boats for Saturday's Grand and Petite Finals. Gonzaga's semifinal heat will include Stanford, Rutgers University, Army, Long Beach State University and Minnesota. The top three boats from that race will advance to the Grand Final with the last three earning spots in the Petite Final. Gonzaga placed 9th overall last season with the Bulldogs boat finishing third in the Petite Final.
Gonzaga's freshmen 4+ pulled double duty on Friday as the Bulldogs finished in second-place in their heat race by four-seconds. Gonzaga crossed the line at 6:57.39 but could not catch the winning boat of George Washington University that crossed at 6:53.71. GU and GWU made the heat a two-team race as third-place Wisconsin was eight-seconds behind Gonzaga at 7:05.67. Saint Joseph's University, Georgetown University and Colgate rounded out the field. Also winning first round heat races were Temple University (7:00.24), Yale University (6:53.68) and Harvard (6:46.81).
In the afternoon repechage, Gonzaga cruised to a six-second victory over Colgate to advance to Friday's semifinals and a chance at a spot in the Grand or Petite Final. Gonzaga rowed a time of 7:13.25 with Colgate following at 7:19.78. Syracuse University was third followed by Wisconsin's "B" boat and UC Davis. Cornell University (7:12.16), Hobart (7:11.71) and Wisconsin "A" (7:18.2) won the other three repechages.
Gonzaga's freshmen 4+ will return to action on Friday morning at 8:48 in the first semifinal. Also entered in Gonzaga's semifinal heat are Temple, Yale, Wisconsin "A", Brown University and Navy. Gonzaga advanced to the Third Final last year finishing 15th overall. In 1999 Gonzaga finished 3rd in the Grand Final for the best finish to date by a Gonzaga boat at the IRA championships.
IRA National Championships
(Cooper River - Camden, NJ)
Men's Varsity 4+
Opening Day Heat Race
1. Gonzaga 6:52.91
2. Harvard 6:58.94
3. Wisconsin 7:04.95
4. Minnesota 7:18.79
5. UCLA 7:26.72
6. Dartmouth 7:43.83
Men's Freshmen 4+
Opening Day Heat Race
1. George Washington 6:53.39
2. Gonzaga 6:57.39
3. Wisconsin "A" 7:05.67
4. Saint Joseph's 7:10.24
5. Georgetown "A" 7:12.28
6. Colgate 7:18.85
Opening Day
Repechage Race
1. Gonzaga 7:13.25
2. Colgate 7:19.78
3. Syracuse 7:23.4
4. Wisconsin "B" 7:28.62
5. UC Davis 7;31.07
