Pac-12 Alumni Power U.S. Eight To Olympics

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Four former Pac-12 rowers and coxswain Zach Vlahos, who went to CALIFORINA, helped the United States men's eight qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. Former STANFORD rowers David Banks and Jake Cornelius and WASHINGTON's Giuseppe Lanzone and Brett Newlin were part of the crew that captured a four-second victory over New Zealand at the Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland. Cal head coach Mike Teti will guide them in London.

Teti and the U.S. men's eight needed to win the final to qualify for the Olympics after missing out at last summer's World Championships. Anything less would have meant the U.S. would not send a boat to the men's eight at the Summer Olympics for the first time.

The U.S. crew led from the start, putting more 2.28 seconds between it and New Zealand by the 500-meter mark. The Americans posted a time of 5:36.11, with New Zealand second in 5:40.02. France crossed third with a time of 5:46.35.