June 3, 2010

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CAMDEN, N.J. - The Boston University men's crew team opened the 108th-annual IRA Regatta with a solid performance by sending all four boats to the semifinals Thursday on the Cooper River. While the freshman eight and open four crews avoided the repechages, both of the varsity eight boats used the extra race as a confidence booster by winning their respective heats in the afternoon.

Coxed by senior Bianca Wieczorek and stroked by classmate Meindert Klem, the 15th-seeded varsity eight boat started the competition for the Terriers by finishing fourth in the morning heat. The result was nothing to complain about though, as BU only missed out on winning by two seconds at 5:36.664. No. 3 Harvard finished first at 5:34.615, while Columbia captured the second automatic semifinal berth at 5:35.048.

The positive momentum from having a strong morning race carried over to the afternoon, as the Terriers won its respective repechage at 5:31.636 to finish ahead of No. 8 Cornell (5:31.702), No. 11 Northeastern (5:32.066), No. 12 Stanford (5:32.838) and No. 6 Wisconsin (5:38.136). Only the top three boats advanced to the semifinals with the other two being placed in Saturday's 3rd Level Final.

The V8 boat will race at 12:15 p.m. on Friday against No. 1 Washington, No. 2 California, No. 9 Columbia, No. 10 Syracuse and No. 11 Northeastern with the top three boats advancing to the Grand Final and the others competing in the Petites on Saturday.

The 11th-seeded second varsity eight had a similar result, placing fourth in the morning heat but then returning in the afternoon to capture its own repechage. Stroked by junior Wijnand Schoemakers and coxed by sophomore Bobby McGee, the Terriers won with a time of 5:44.484, finishing ahead of No. 9 Yale (5:45.198), No. 13 Columbia (5:45.373) and No. 12 Dartmouth (5:49.511).

As the highest-seeded BU boat at No. 6, the freshman eight did not disappoint in its first heat by avoiding the repechage with a second-place finish. Recording the fourth-best time of the 17 boats at 5:44.179, the Terriers placed behind No. 1 Washington (5:40.822) but ahead of No. 7 Stanford (5:46.361).

Coxed by Sarah Tadiri and stroked by Todd Sukolsky, BU will race at 11:15 a.m. against No. 2 Harvard, No. 4 California, No. 7 Stanford, No. 12 Oregon State and No. 13 Navy.

The open varsity four boat also avoided the repechage by placing third in its respective heat at 6:45.428, ahead of Penn (6:52.473). Wisconsin won with a time of 6:29.359. Coxed by Maria Escallon and stroked by David Buchanan, the Terriers will start the competition at 9:45 a.m.

They will race against Princeton, California, Wisconsin, Oregon State and Penn.

Day One Morning Heat Results

Varsity Eight (Heat 2, top two advance to semifinals, others to repechage)
Harvard - 5:34.615
Columbia - 5:35.048
Princeton - 5:35.469
Boston U. - 5:36.665
Syracuse - 5:39.363
Penn - 6:04.420

Second Varsity Eight (Heat 2, top three advance to semifinals, others to repechage)
California - 5:42.877
Wisconsin - 5:47.445
Northeastern - 5:48.953
Boston U. - 5:54.870
Navy - 5:55.608

Freshman Eight (Heat 2, top two advance to semifinals, others to repechage)
Washington - 5:40.822
Boston U. - 5:44.179
Stanford - 5:46.361
Navy - 5:56.580
Oregon State - 5:57.576

Open Varsity Four (Heat 2, top three advance to semifinals, others to repechage)
Wisconsin - 6:29.359
Harvard - 6:33.067
Boston U. - 6:45.428
Penn - 6:52.473

Day One Afternoon Repechage Results

Varsity Eight (Repechage 1, top three advance to semifinals, others to Saturday's 3rd Grand Final)
Boston U. - 5:31.636
Cornell - 5:31.702
Northeastern - 5:32.066
Stanford - 5:32.838
Wisconsin - 5:38.136
Penn - 5:50.131

Second Varsity Eight (Repechage 1, top three advance to semifinals, others to Saturday's 3rd Grand Final)
Boston U. - 5:44.484
Yale - 5:45.198
Columbia - 5:45.373
Dartmouth - 5:49.511
Navy - 5:54.044
Penn - 6:05.270