Top-seeded Princeton, the only undefeated varsity eight boat in the competition, advanced Friday as expected. But the opening day of the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships began and ended in controversy.
Princeton won the first of three early-morning heats in 6 minutes, 23.84 seconds at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.
The Tigers had an open-water lead approaching the halfway point over Michigan State but eased toward the finish.
The three-day regatta began under overcast skies and with a temperature of 51 degrees, more than 30 degrees cooler than normal.
Brown had the fast varsity eights qualifier in 6:22.48 in the second heat, more than a four-second margin. Cal (6:26.57), seeded second in the country, was the runner-up. Yale (6:30.92) qualified third.
Stanford (6:23.67) claimed the third varsity eights heat in 6:23.67, followed by qualifiers USC (6:28.86) and Washington State (6:33.68).
The opening session had two surprising developments, including one that will affect overall team standings.
Cal's second varsity eight won its morning heat by more than 3 1/2 seconds. But the Bears' boat, weighed in a random NCAA pick after the event, was under the 205-pound minimum.
As the late afternoon session ended, reports of at least four other schools being underweight also surfaced.
More than two hours after the regatta, an NCAA committee determined it was unfair to penalize teams with the accuracy of the competition's scales in question. Most of the teams' coaches had the left the facility and were informed of the decision by telephone.
Longtime rowing experts at the regatta recall similar circumstances at the world championships but never at the NCAAs.
Cal, which was relegated to the afternoon repechage (a second chance to qualify for the semifinals), placed second in a photo finish in 6:59.48 to Michigan (6:59.31).
Washington State also advanced to the semifinals via the repechage in 6:59.70. The Bears' position in the repechage was later dismissed, and they were awarded a better lane position based on a dominating heat victory.
Brown provided the day's other morning surprise with its non-advancing varsity fours boat. But Brown advanced in the repechage.
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