Duke's Varsity Four crew showcased an impressive performance on the first day of the Rocky Top Invitational, clinching a first-place finish against notable teams including No. 14 Penn, UCLA, and Clemson. The event features a rapid progression toward semifinals and finals for various crews, with the semifinals scheduled to kick off Saturday morning starting at 8 a.m.

By the Numbers
  • Duke's Varsity Four finished with a time of 7:16.593, over eight seconds ahead of second-place Penn.
  • The Varsity Eight recorded a time of 6:33.482, just three seconds behind the first-place Bruins.
State of Play
  • The Third Varsity Eight came in third with a time of 6:59.453, trailing behind No. 17 Alabama and No. 5 Tennessee.
  • The Second Varsity Eight finished second, clocking in at 7:33.414, closely contesting with UCLA for the lead.
What's Next

The semifinals for all crews will commence Saturday morning at 8 a.m., with further races scheduled throughout the day, concluding with finals starting at 11:54 a.m.

Bottom Line

Duke's rowing teams displayed strong potential on the first day of competition, particularly the Varsity Four, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive semifinal day ahead.