PHILADELPHIA, Pa. --  At the 71st Annual Dad Vail Regatta, the No.1-ranked Mercyhurst College women's varsity eight turned in the preliminary's best time in the 1500-meter adjusted one-lane course on Friday.  The Lakers posted a time of 04:.40.869 and will enter Saturday's semifinals as the favorite.  

The first day of the regatta featured one-lane time trials due to rising waters in the Schuykill River after severe rains in the eastern Pennsylvania area for most of the week.

Joining the women's varsity eight in the semifinals is the men's lightweight four, who also turned in the fastest qualifying time of 04:41.013.

The women's varsity four finished 10th in its qualifying stage to advance to the semifinals after a 05:16.525 finish and will join the men's frosh/novice four in the next round after they posted the sixth-best first round time of 04:47.897.

Fans call follow all the action via the official Dad Vail Regatta website that features race times and full results provided by Powerhouse timing.  To visit the Dad Vail site, please click here.