2005 NCAA Women's Championships
May 27-29, 2005
Lake Natoma, California, USA
Pre-Race Analysis
Division I - I Eights Grand Final
Race Bulletin 237 is simply a mixture of the split times from todays semi-finals races, posted by the six Division I Eights which qualified for the Grand Finals of the 2005 NCAA Womens Rowing Championships. This race will be run tomorrow at 12:00 oclock noon, Pacific Daylight Savings Time, with live audio streaming and live splits and graphics coverage by JAMCO. If these crews post the same splits tomorrow, as they did today in their semi-finals races, this is how their Grand Final might play out.
First 500 meters
Expect Princeton and Cal to go out fast with Princeton up by less than a quarter length over Cal at the 500m mark. Yale and Harvard should be even, both about three-quarters of a length behind Princeton at that point, with Virginia and Ohio State also even, but another half-length back.
Second 500
Look for Cal to assert itself in the second 500, taking a half length back from Princeton, giving Cal a quarter length over second position Princeton at 1000m. Expect both Harvard and Virginia to mount serious challenges to Yale, putting Harvard into third position at 1000m, a half length up on both Virginia and Yale, who should be about even.
Third 500
Cal may continue its move on Princeton in the third 500, gaining yet another quarter length for a half length margin over Princeton with 500 meters to go. Yale, Virginia and Ohio State may all move back on Harvard in the third 500, with Harvard holding a slim quarter length over Virginia and only a half-length over Yale with 500 meters to go.
Last 500
Cal will try to add another quarter length to its lead to win the race with
a final margin of three-quarters of a length over Princeton. Harvard should
be expected to mount a closing charge for third place, overlapping it with
Princeton at the finish, and holding off furious challenges from Yale, Virginia
and Ohio State. If this plays out, the bronze medal will be decided by a difference
of less than 2 seconds between the last 4 crews.
See the race graphic.