Princeton University Athletics
Crews Start 2009-10 Season In Snowy Head Of The Charles Regatta
October 19, 2009 | Heavyweight Rowing, Women's Rowing - Open, Women's Rowing - Lightweight, Men's Rowing - Lightweight
While the official collegiate rowing season isn't until the spring, one of the most famous regattas in the world kicked off the rowing season Sunday. On a snowy day at the Head of the Charles, Princeton got several solid performances from its various crews, although a couple dealt with buoy penalties that cost them higher finishes.
One such buoy penalty cost the Princeton heavyweights in their first competition under new head coach Greg Hughes. The Tigers' final adjusted time of 15:43.051 put them in 26th place in the championship eights competiton (the Head of the Charles features several races that feature both collegiate and club programs). Princeton's actual rowing time of 15:03.051 would have been good enough for ninth overall, fourth among collegiate crews and second only to Brown among Ivy League programs.
The Princeton open women, whose strong finish last season led the Tigers to the medal stand at the EAWRC championships and a grand final spot at the NCAA championships, completed the Charles River course in 16:59.850, sixth-best overall and third to Yale and Washington among collegiate crews. Princeton topped several of its collegiate rivals, including Brown, Harvard, Michigan and Stanford.
Reigning Eastern and national champion Princeton finished with an adjusted time of 15:32.725 after suffering a buoy penalty. Despite the miscue, Princeton still finished second overall and first among all collegiate programs by more than four seconds (14 seconds without the penalty). It was a strong debut for new head coach Marty Crotty, who came from the heavyweight assistant seat to take over as the lightweight coach.
The Princeton lightweight women placed sixth overall in a time of 18:28.488, and fourth among collegiate programs. Reigning national champion Wisconsin won the race, while Princeton finished just behind IRA fourth-place squad Harvard and 14 seconds ahead of 2009 national bronze medalist Stanford.