May 5, 2008

Athens, Ohio - The Mercyhurst men's rowing team took home three championships and the women's team added one as the Lakers competed at the Mid-American Collegiate Rowing Association (MACRA) Championship Regatta Sunday at Strouds Run State Park in Athens, Ohio.

Mercyhurst's men's pair, men's varsity four and men's lightweight four all rolled to MACRA titles and the women's pair picked up a victory as well. The Lakers added three runner-ups as the men's varsity eight, men's junior varsity lightweight eight and women's varsity eight all placed second.

The men's pair rowed a 7:23.10 to defeat Cincinnati by more than 13 seconds. Mercyhurst's B team came in third with a time of 7:38.51 to edge Grand Valley State.

The men's varsity four won a highly contested race with a time of 6:42.84, less than two seconds faster than Dayton. Chicago and Grand Valley State also finished with times better than 7:00.

The men's lightweight four pulled away from the crowd and dominated the field with a time of 6:45.69, the only crew to finish faster than 7:00. Ohio State was second in 7:01.64, followed by Dayton, Cincinnati and the University of Chicago.

The women's pair also dominated its race with a time of 8:06.11, beating Grand Valley State by just over 15 seconds. The University of Chicago was third.

Both of the Lakers' varsity eight crews finished second behind Grand Valley State. The men had a time of 6:26.22 to beat Michigan State, Ohio State and Chicago, but that was 11 seconds behind Grand Valley State, which won the race in 6:14.96. The women finished less than four seconds away from the championship with a time of 7:24.72, beating Ohio State, North Park and Ohio. Grand Valley State won in 7:21.13.

Mercyhurst will back in action Friday and Saturday at one of the largest collegiate races in the country, the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia.

MID-AMERICAN COLLEGIATE ROWING ASSOCIATION
CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA
STROUDS RUN STATE PARK - ATHENS, OHIO
MAY 4, 2008

Preliminaries
Men's Varsity Four - 2. Mercyhurst 6:58.47
Men's Varsity Eight - 4. Mercyhurst 6:12.94
Women's Varsity Four - 1. Mercyhurst B 7:16.2; 8. Mercyhurst A 8:54.34
Women's Novice Four - 9. Mercyhurst 9:17.53

Finals
Men's Pair - 1. Mercyhurst A 7:23.10; 2. Cincinnati 7:36.66; 3. Mercyhurst B 7:38.51; 4. Grand Valley State 7:39.16; 5. Lawrence 7:53.93
Men's Varsity Four - 1. Mercyhurst 6:42.84; 2. Dayton 6:44.24; 3. Chicago 6:50.79; 4. Grand Valley State 6:55.92; 5. Cincinnati 7:16.91
Men's Lightweight Four - 1. Mercyhurst 6:45.69; 2. Ohio State 7:01.64; 3. Dayton 7:08.54; 4. Cincinnati 7:10.77; 5. Chicago 7:31.79
Men's Varsity Eight - 1. Grand Valley State 6:14.96; 2. Mercyhurst 6:26.22; 3. Michigan State 6:32.16; 4. Ohio State 6:34.05; 5. Chicago 6:52.48
Men's JV Lightweight Eight - 1. Grand Valley State 6:25.50; 2. Mercyhurst 6:29.50; 3. Northwestern 6:40.69; 4. Ohio State 7:10.35
Women's Pair - 1. Mercyhurst 8:06.11; 2. Grand Valley State 8:21.62; 3. Chicago 8:35.28
Women's Varsity Four - 1. Ohio State 7:40.75; 2. Michigan State 7:41.49; T3. Mercyhurst 7:41.99; T3. Cincinnati 7:41.99; 5. Lawrence 7:52.31
Women's Varsity Eight - 1. Grand Valley State 7:21.13; 2. Mercyhurst 7:24.72; 3. Ohio State 7:40.47; 4. North Park 8:22.23; 5. Ohio 9:47.28