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Following 3V Win, Tiger Heavies Will Send Three Boats Out On Henley Friday
July 02, 2015 | Heavyweight Rowing
VIDEO SERIES: BOAT NAMING l PREVIEW l DRAW ANNOUNCEMENT l
3V WINS OPENER (July 1) l 3V TOPS LIVERPOOL (July 2)
PRINCETON AT HENLEY: THE TRADITION l ALL-TIME TIGER ENTRIES
WATCH LIVE HENLEY RACING HERE
(This story was amended at 5:50 pm to note a new race time for the heavyweight 2V)
The Princeton heavyweight 3V defeated Liverpool by 2 1/4 lengths Thursday to help set up one of the most anticipated days in the history of the Tiger tradition at Henley. Three Princeton boats will race Friday, including the Ladies Plate showdown between the Princeton 1V and the national champion Washington 1V.
The 1V, which earned bronze at the IRA national championships (the program's first IRA medal since 2006), will open against Washington, which has won each of the last five IRA national championships. It will be the first dual race between the two legendary programs since 1926, a race that Washington won by six lengths (thanks to Mike Vatis '85 for that one).
That race will take place at 4 pm local time, 11 am ET, which will be 40 minutes after the Princeton 2V makes its Henley debut. The Princeton 2V, which won gold at Sprints and silver at IRAs, will take on the Leander Club, a top rowing club in England, at 9:25 am local, 4:25 am ET.
While both of those boats will be looking for spots in the Ladies Plate semifinals, the 3V will be trying to maintain a dominant march towards the Temple Cup weekend. After topping MIT by 3 1/3 lengths Wednesday, Princeton was in full control Thursday for a 2 1/4 length win. The Tigers clearly lowered the pace when the victory was well in their grasp to save something for their Friday showdown with the Université de Lyon of France, which will take place at 6:10 pm local, 1:10 pm ET.
"The two races so far have been a good start to the regatta," senior Ryan Meder said. "We have shown some promising speed early in the races, and we have been fortunate enough to be able to take the stroke rating down and coast through the second half of the races in order to conserve energy as the weekend approaches. We definitely expect a tight race from Lyon all the way down the course tomorrow in the quarterfinals. I am excited to get back to full tilt racing."
While the experience will pay dividends for the returning Tigers (21 of the 27, including coxswains, return to Princeton next year), it is also extending the collegiate rowing careers for the likes of Meder, who is looking to add to his Sprints gold medal this weekend.
"Taking big leads early in the racing so far has allowed me to soak in Henley's unique atmosphere and enjoy each moment of my last races," he said. "It is such a privilege to be racing at Henley, and it is an unforgettable way to go out at Princeton."