Lightweights, opens dominate at the Charles

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In a setting that was more reminiscent of the Olympics than a crew race, 300,000 spectators watched more than 7,500 athletes compete in 26 events over two days. The Audi-sponsored event is the Head of the Charles Regatta, the world's largest two-day regatta.

Princeton's crews came out in full force for the event, stroking past the competition for several top three and top collegiate finishes.

While the regatta may help the team build confidence, the format of the race is much different from that of the collegiate season in the spring. For one, club rowing teams and national teams row in this race. Additionally, this race is a whopping three miles long, taking about 15 minutes to complete as opposed to the typical two kilometers rowed in the spring.

"As much as you feel like you're going to die three quarters of the way through, we just kind of stepped up and pull through the pain," senior open captain Carrie Kruse said. "We had a really great race across the board (this weekend). It was really great to see."

Kruse rowed in the women's championship eight, a boat that finished third in its race with a time of 16 minutes and 13.109 seconds. In an ironic twist, the Tigers placed behind two former Princetonians: Caroline Lind '06 who stroked the U.S. National Team to a first place finish and Adreanne Morin '06 who stroked the Canadian National Team to the runner-up spot.

Princeton had the lead on the Canadians for part of the race, but coming around a tough turn, Canada forced the Tigers to back off. This allowed the Canadians to pass and the Tigers were unable to recapture the lead. This disappointment, however, is only a small one. Princeton's performance surely deserves notice as the Tigers took the top finish for collegiate boats for the second year in a row. Last season began in identical fashion. Naturally, the Tigers are hoping that a perfect imitation brings a second National title in as many years.

The open women also sent a four, which turned in a race of 19:03.922 for a tenth place finish and a combination boat of freshman and varsity rowers with a novice coxswain to row in the collegiate eight race. The boat placed fourth with a time of 17:31.334 behind Ivy League rivals Yale and Brown.

Lightweight dominance

The women's lightweight team rowed a phenomenal race for a second-place finish behind the Canadian national team with a time of 17:12.974. Although Princeton failed to win the race, it was able to top rival Wisconsin, a three-time national champion.

"We just kind of walked up on Wisconsin," senior captain Caitlin Corr said. "Our coxswain, sophomore Alyx Cullen, had a great race. She coxed like a senior coxswain."

The race was Cullen's Charles debut, and she had an exceptional first outing. Not only did her boat top the reigning national champions, but also beat archrival Radcliffe.

"It was great to beat them," Corr said, "but we have make sure we don't take them too lightly [next weekend]."

The lightweight squad also sent a four to the regatta which placed seventh behind several club rowing teams, international universities and the University of Pittsburgh.

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"The lightweight four had a great race," Corr said. "It was a difficult race. They did a great job. They're really excited about it."

The lightweight men had a similar outing on the Charles yesterday. The Tigers took fourth in their event, also nabbing the top collegiate finish with a time of 14:48.719.

"We found a good rhythm in the beginning of the race," senior captain Greg McKallagat said. "Going into the last mile we made a really big push. It was a really aggressive race."

The boat's top finish was threatened, however, by a push from the Cornell squad early in the race.

"At the beginning when Cornell walked into us we were a little on edge," McKallagat said. "But we stayed confident, stayed composed and walked out. It was a really mature race."

Another stellar performance by the Tigers came from the heavyweight novices. Though the team placed second, the margin of victory was less than a seat. The boat finished in a time of 15:02.949, less than a second and a half behind winner Cal.

The top heavyweight boat had a slightly disappointing showing, placing tenth with a time of 14:37.916, behind six collegiate crews.

Princeton won the event last year, the first collegiate crew to do so in 22 years, and had a strong showing at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship last spring. But the Tigers graduated a strong senior class, leaving the team with a lot of work to do before the spring season if they wish to repeat last year's undefeated campaign.

The men's teams also entered a mixed heavyweight and lightweight boat in the collegiate eight event, placing 26th with a time of 16:12.154.