The Big Ten Women’s Rowing Championships will be returning to Eagle Creek Park on Sunday, May 13, 2012. Racing to begin at 9am. This is a free event, so come cheer on some of the top collegiate teams in the country! There is a park entry fee per vehicle of $5 (Marion County residents) or $6 (out of county).
2011 marked the first year that the Big Ten Women’s Rowing Championships were held at a neutral site. Indianapolis’ seven-lane, world-class rowing course accomodates the finals-only format that the Big Ten Conference prefers. Prior to 2011, the Championships rotated thru the member campuses – with some schools having 4 lane courses, and some schools unable to accomodate a full 2,000 meter course (which are perfectly acceptable venues for general season races). In an effort to standardize the championship racing, the Big Ten Conference has chosen to move the regatta to Indianapolis for 2011, 2012, and 2013.
The Big Ten Women’s Rowing Championships comprises of four events which are weighted and scored for the Team Trophy. While the team with the largest number of points at the end of the regatta wins the team point trophy, the winning boat in each event wins a medal and the rowers in the lineup are considered Big Ten Champions in their event.
The results of this regatta are used by the national panel of coaches to choose the crews that are invited to compete at the NCAA championships. The NCAA selection process includes the team results, and allows for a few “At-Large” boat entries – invitations to enter a single boat instead of bringing the whole team. In future years, the NCAA will institute the policy of “automatic qualifier,” meaning that the winning team from the nation’s top conferdnces will receive an automatic bid to compete at the NCAAs.
2012 NCAA Invitations will be posted May 15th, 2012 on the NCAA website.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS: in order of priority (the first event is weighted the highest): Varsity Womens 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+, Second Varsity 4+, Novice 8+, Second Novice 8+,
BIG TEN ROWING SCHOOLS: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan*, Michigan State*, Minnesota, Ohio State*, Wisconsin*
*Ranked in the top 20 programs in the nation, May 2011, NCAA coaches’ poll (as reported on the NCAA website)
2011 Team Champions: The Ohio State University
More about the IRC venue.
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