May 10, 2008

Philadelphia, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's rowing lightweight four lived up to its billing Saturday, winning its event as the top seed at the Dad Vail Regatta. All four Laker boats that competed Saturday advanced to the finals and the rowing programs brought home three top three finishes.

The men's lightweight four won its opening heat Friday and remained unbeaten through two rounds Saturday. The Lakers finished the semifinals in 6:15.681 to win its heat and then rolled to the championship in 6:26.758, outdistancing Brock by almost five seconds.

The men's pair followed up a victory in its opening heat Friday by winning its semifinal heat Saturday morning in 10:36.874. The Lakers brought home a runner-up finish in the championship with a time of 6:44.221. Dowling edged out the Lakers for the championship.

The women's varsity eight entered the Division II/III competition as the No. 3 ranked crew in all of Division II. After narrowly advancing to the semifinals with a third place finish in its preliminary heat Friday, the Lakers finished third again in the semifinals with a time of 6:29.146 to take the last spot to the finals. Mercyhurst rowed a 6:48.488 in the championship to place third behind No. 2 Dowling and Grand Valley State. The Lakers did beat No. 4 Philadelphia.

The men's heavyweight four advanced to the finals by placing second in its semifinal heat with a time of 6:26.050. In the championship, Mercyhurst finished fifth in 6:48.762.

The men's rowing team has now completed its season. If the team qualifies, the women's rowing team will compete in the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. May 30 and June 1.

DAD VAIL REGATTA
PHILADELPHIA, PA.

Mercyhurst's Finals Results
Men's varsity pair - 1. Dowling 6:39.855; 2. Mercyhurst 6:44.221; 3. Toronto Miss 6:55.707; 4. Pittsburgh 7:01.595; 5. St. Thomas 7:04.920; 6. Washington University 7:10.618
Men's lightweight four - 1. Mercyhurst 6:26.758; 2. Brock 6:31.670; 3. Santa Barbara 6:33.765; 4. Washington College 6:42.109; 5. Georgia Tech 6:45.191; 6. St. Joseph's 6:50.178
Men's heavyweight four - 1. St. Thomas 6:33.281; 2. Dayton 6:37.603; 3. Rollins 6:38.153; 4. Clemson 6:45.133; 5. Mercyhurst 6:48.762; 6. Penn State 6:50.172
Women's varsity eight (DII/III) - 1. Dowling 6:43.384; 2. Grand Valley State 6:48.133; 3. Mercyhurst 6:48.488; 4. Philadelphia 6:52.626; 5. Rochester 6:54.153; 6. Barry 7:09.409