May 16, 2014
CLEMSON, S.C. – After a weather-delayed start on Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C., the University of Notre Dame rowing team’s inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship regatta began shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, the Irish boats clinched first place in heat two of the First Varsity Four, the First Varsity Eight and the Second Varsity Eight races. Notre Dame advanced to the Grand Final heat of each event on Saturday.
“I thought we raced well, and did what we needed to do to win our heats and advance into the Grand Finals tomorrow,” Notre Dame head coach Martin Stone said. “I don’t think we had spectacular races, but we did what we needed to do to make sure we won and advanced. I think we did a good job with that, and we will come back tomorrow with kind of a quick turnaround, and be ready to go in the morning.
“(The delay) was a precautionary thing, and something we discussed last night in the meeting,” he added. “The wind during racing was very bearable, but the wind was very strong for the Varsity Fours, and dropped for the 2V8s. Then, it came back substantially more than it was for the Fours during the Varsity Eight, it was up and down.”
In the First Varsity Four race, the Irish boasted a time of 7:46.7, nearly eight seconds behind heat No. 1 winner Virginia’s time of 7:38.8. Following the Irish were Syracuse (7:58.9), Boston College (8:03.70) and Miami (8:20.70).
The Varsity Eight races ended in a similar fashion as well, with the Cavaliers finishing first in both the Second Varsity Eight and the First Varsity Eight first heats. The Irish advanced into the Grand Finals with a 6:50.0 mark in the Second Varsity Eight Race and stroked their way to a 6:47.6 time in the First Varsity Eight.
“There was no added emotions with it being our first ACC Championship,” Stone said. “I think we went in with the same emotions that we always have in past conference championships. The ACC, and Clemson as a host institution, has done a phenomenal job. Everything on that end has been fantastic.”
Races are set to begin at approximately 8:00 a.m. Saturday with the Third Varsity Eight Final, and will be streamed live on the ACC Digital Network. For full results, follow ACC Rowing on Twitter @ACCRowing.
Friday Results
Head Wind 3-4 mph at start, 7-8 mph at 1,000 meters
Heat 1–First Varsity Four–1.Virginia, 7:39.8; 2. Duke, 7:52.9; 3. Clemson, 8:03.00;
4. North Carolina, 8:37.9.
Heat 2–First Varsity Four–1. Notre Dame, 7:46.7; 2. Syracuse, 7:58.9; 3. Boston College, 8:03.70;
4. Miami, 8:20.70.
Heat 1–Second Varsity Eight–1.Virginia, 6:42.4; 2. Clemson, 7:06.2; 3. Duke, 7:10.8;
4. North Carolina, 7:16.7.
Heat 2–Second Varsity Eight–1. Notre Dame, 6:50.0; 2. Syracuse, 6:55.0; 3. Miami, 7:02.8;
4. Boston College, 7:08.1.
Heat 1–First Varsity Eight–1. Virginia, 6:42.7; 2. Clemson, 6:53.9; 3. Duke, 6:56.3;
4. North Carolina, 7:15.1.
Heat 2–First Varsity Eight–1. Notre Dame, 6:47.6; 2. Syracuse, 6:56.0; 3. Miami, 7:02.8;
4. Boston College, 7:13.1.
Saturday’s Finals Schedule
8:02 a.m.–Third Varsity Eight Final
8:10 a.m.–First Varsity Four, Petite Final
8:20 a.m.–First varsity Four, Grand Final
8:30 a.m.–Second Varsity Eight, Petite Final
8:40 a.m.–Second varsity Eight, Grand Final
8:50 a.m.–First Varsity Eight, Petite Final
9:00 a.m.–First Varsity Eight, Grand Final
–ND–