Princeton University Athletics
Heavy 8+ Chase Win, Strong Performances Overall Highlight Final Fall Races
October 26, 2014 | General, Heavyweight Rowing, Women's Rowing - Open, Women's Rowing - Lightweight, Men's Rowing - Lightweight
RESULTS: PRINCETON CHASE l HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL
The heavyweight eight topped both Yale and Boston University by more than 10 seconds apiece to win the opening race of Sunday's Princeton Chase, a day-long regatta that signals the end of the fall racing season.
The heavyweights produced two boats that finished in the Top 10 of the Chase, a regatta that brought together some of the top boats in collegiate racing. The men's lightweights, coming off a win at the Head of the Charles last weekend, had two boats place in the top eight, while the open women saw its top boat finish in the Top 5.
The women's lightweights also competed in the Princeton Chase, placing two boats in the open women's 8+ and two others in the open 4s, including one that finished 13th overall; however, the lightweight women made their biggest statement Saturday, when they won the Head of the Schuylkill open four event.
Here is a more detailed look at the four programs:
HEAVYWEIGHT MEN
One week after finishing fifth among collegiate boats at the Head of the Charles, the Tigers notched a fall victory in 12:48.916 at the Chase. Among the teams that Princeton defeated was Boston University, which finished just ahead of Princeton the previous weekend.
The Princeton 'B' boat finished 10th overall in 13:26.705, and it was also the second-fastest 'B' crew in the field; only Yale placed a second boat in a faster time, and that was less than four seconds. Princeton also had the fastest 'C' boat in the field, finishing in 13:38.731.
Princeton's top varsity 4+ finished third overall in 14:42.522, and its freshman 8+ finished second only to its own freshman lightweight 8+ boat. The heavy freshman 8+ finished in 13:41.609.
LIGHTWEIGHT WOMEN
The Tigers sent the same four that claimed gold at the Head of the Charles to the Schuylkill River, and they came away with another victory. Princeton won in 16:00.65, which was nearly 16 seconds faster than any boat in the field. Princeton nearly had two in the Top 10, as its second boat finished 11th overall in 17:12.25.
Princeton also had a 2V8 compete, and it placed 16th overall. The Tigers then returned home and sent a pair of eights into the open women's event, as well as its top two fours from the Schuylkill into the Princeton Chase event. The top finish for the lightweight women Sunday came from the V4A, which placed 13th overall in the event in 17:45.232. That time was faster than the top open four from the likes of Penn and Boston College.LIGHTWEIGHT MEN
The Princeton lightweights, winners of the Head of the Charles championship 8+ event last weekend, took fourth in the Chase lightweight 8+ final in 13:29.611. The Tiger 'B' boat took eighth overall in 13:46.183, and it was the second-fastest 'B' in the field.
Head coach Marty Crotty got a very positive result from his freshman 8+, which won its race in 13:30.136. Not only did that time beat several heavyweight freshman boats, but it topped both the lightweight crews from Harvard and Cornell by more than 20 seconds apiece.
Princeton also got a Top 10 finish from its top four in 15:51.788.
OPEN WOMEN
The Princeton 8+ finished fifth overall in 15:03.362, while it placed two other eights in the Top 20 overall (17th, 15:38.713; 19th, 15:42.328).
Like the lightweight men, the open women gave a positive sign about their future with a dominant showing in the novice eight. The Tigers won in 16:03.445, which was more than nine seconds faster than any boat in the field and 21 seconds faster than any other Ivy League boat.
Princeton also had three of its 4s place in the top seven overall, including a fourth-place finish in 17:09.291.