Boats finish near top at Princeton Chase

Crew is always a hard sport — just ask the countless freshmen who quit every fall. But on a windy day, rowing can become even harder.

Princeton, a perennial powerhouse, garnered several top finishes at the Princeton Chase, battling strong headwinds and an even stronger field of competitors that included rivals Yale and Virginia. The Tigers entered 14 boats and 126 competitors into the event, representing all four varsity teams: the men's lightweights, men's heavyweights, women's open and women's lightweights.

The Princeton Chase is an invitational regatta hosted by the University every year in the last weekend of October. The grueling three-mile course on Lake Carnegie is the second regatta of the fall.

Originally intended to last two days, the event was shortened to one due to gusty winds, rough water and a dangerous course that was littered with windblown debris. Because of the weather, only the varsity eights competed.

The 30 mph winds didn't deter the women's lightweights, who dominated their competition. Princeton's 'E' boat won easily in 16 minutes, 58 seconds, almost 36 seconds ahead of the Tigers' 'F' boat (17:35.34) and 62 seconds ahead of third-place Radcliffe (18:00.97).

Princeton finished third in the women's open division (16:08.12), behind first-place Virginia (15:50:93) and Ivy-rival Yale (16:07.62). Princeton's 'B' crew was eighth in 16:38.49.

Though the Tigers won the varsity eights at last year's Princeton Chase, the open crew lost several key rowers from last season to graduation. Nevertheless, the young crew is poised to make a run at another championship in the spring.

The men's heavyweights, who also won the varsity eights at last year's Princeton Chase, were edged by Yale. Their second-place finish (14:18:27) was significantly better than that of a week earlier at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, however, where they were 26th. Princeton's 'B' crew (15:19.66) rowed to 18th place.

The men's lightweight eights improved on last year's fifth-place showing with a fourth-place finish (14:37.94), a mere 12 seconds behind Cornell (14:25.74). The 'C' boat tied with Columbia for seventh in 14:52.86., while the 'B' boat captured 10th in 15:07.44. The lightweights finished third in June at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships.

Though the entire regatta was extremely challenging, the last mile was especially tough, as crews rounded a corner straight into a headwind. Chop slowed boats down, while gusts made steering difficult. Some boats suffered minor damage after failing to navigate around submerged wood and vegetation.

In the women's open division, Princeton's 'C' boat earned a 35th place finish, despite running over debris and losing a fin.

The varsity singles, doubles, and fours, whose races were cancelled, stayed in Princeton for much of Fall Break in preparation for next Sunday's Belly of the Carnegie Regatta at Shea Rowing Center.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Elsewhere, the novice crews were also expected to compete Oct. 28 at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia.

Inclement weather, however, forced the cancellation of the races, which the Orange and Black dominated in 2005, earning first in the men's eights and second in the women's eights.

Last season was one of the most successful seasons in crews' 132-year history.

The women opens went undefeated and the men's heavyweight varsity eights captured an Ivy title and concluded the spring 2006 regular season ranked first in the nation. This season, all four varsity divisions are in contention for a championship.