Women's Crew Competes In Inaugural Charles River Challenge
April 15, 2007 | Women's Rowing
BOSTON - The Boston University women’s crew team competed in the inaugural Charles River Challenge against crews from USC, Columbia, UMass, Texas, Radcliffe, and Syracuse on the Charles River on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, the varsity boats came in second in all their races, while the novice eight won its race over two other crews in 7:47.9. The varsity 8+ had a tight finish with Columbia, who made a come-back in the last 500m. USC moved out quickly from the start and the other three boats were neck-and-neck over the course until BU made a move at 750m and Columbia dropped to fourth. However, Columbia made a big push with a final sprint to threaten the Terriers at the line.
BU enjoyed only a light wind and relatively flat water during afternoon racing after a morning of strong winds and rough water.
In the varsity 4+ A race on Saturday afternoon, USC and BU easily out-distanced UMass and Columbia, and the Terriers defeated UMass by 43.5 seconds and Columbia by 44.2 seconds
On Sunday, the varsity 8+ lost a very close race with Syracuse for the Kittle Cup. In a race that also included Texas, BU and Syracuse dueled over most of the race course and BU held a slight lead at the Mass Ave bridge. But Syracuse made a late move in the last 500m to beat out the Terriers with a time of 6:52.1 to BU’s 6:53.
The Terriers’ second varsity eight boat took off in the first 500m and had an open water lead by 1000m that it wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way. BU’s varsity 4+ B raced well in a mix of rain, snow and sleet and beat out Radcliffe by a foot in the second to last race of the day.
SATURDAY RESULTS
Varsity 8
USC 6:46.1; BU 7:09.2; Columbia 7:10.7; UMass 7:17.5
2nd Varsity 8
USC 7:17.2; BU 7:29.3; UMass 7:46.9; Columbia 7:59.8
Varsity 4+ A
USC 7:45.8; BU 8:04.2; UMass 8:47.7; Columbia 8:48.4
2nd Varsity 4+ B
Radcliffe B 8:15.2; BU 8:22.5; UMass 8:46.8; Radcliffe C 8:48.4
Novice 8
BU 7:47.9; Columbia 7:52.4; UMass 7:58.6
SUNDAY RESULTS
Varsity 8 (Kittle Cup)
Texas 6:50.8; Syracuse 6:52.1; BU 6:53
2nd Varsity 8
BU 6:52; Syracuse 6:59.9; Texas 7:06.2
Varsity 4+ A
Syracuse 7:49.9; BU 7:52.7; Texas 7:56.7
Varsity 4+ B
BU; Radcliffe A; Radcliffe B; UMass
Novice 8
Syracuse 7:06.7; Texas 7:09.7; BU 7:28
2nd Novice 8
Texas 7:20.4; BU 7:48.4
