Toward The Title

The latest in US Collegiate Rowing in the run up to the National Championship

L. D. BANKS

THERE’S ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE FINAL RACE. Last week made for the final regattas prior to the 2023 IRA Championships (Intercollegiate Rowing Association). Being the 2023 Pac-12 Rowing Championships which is made up of 12 US Colleges similar to the Ivy-League, and the 2023 Eastern Sprint Championships (Easts) which includes the rest of the US Colleges including the Ivy League. Prior to the championship’s end of the season, crews race in duels, made up of only 2-3 crews at a time. Thus, the introduction of 8-laned races in this portion of the season, gives the crews an opportunity to weigh themselves up against the competition. Although, this sizing-up is left incomplete as there is still ambiguity regarding fastest of the Pac-12 crews and those competing in the Easts.

From the Pac-12 Championships came a not entirely surprising result. The title-defending crew from UC Berkeley (Cal), who has performed exceptionally well last season and so far this season dominated the field. In an outstanding display of tight racing the Cal Novice Eight won by a small margin of only 0.16 seconds in a time of 5:47.100. In an unexpected result, the considered ‘underdog’ University of Washington (Huskies) third Varsity crew subverted expectations in a 8 second win over Cal with a time of 5:46.669. Unsurprisingly, the top end races were dominated by Cal, demonstrating the strength of their program with a 2.33 second win in the Varsity Four, and a 1.152 second win in the Second Varsity Eight. Finally, the Cal Varsity Eight won in style with a 3.838 second margin over the Huskies who claimed the silver with a further 0.514 second margin over Stanford. Cal certainly showed their dominance, winning 4 races from 5 starts, however the tight racing potentially foreshadows some very interesting results at the IRA’s. 

Conversely, the Easts featured a more balanced field, with many crews claiming a win and a roaring tailbreeze making for some of the fastest times recorded in collegiate history. Similarly, the tail tends to condense the field, making for some exceptionally tight racing. In previous years this championship has been dominated by Yale, who on many occasions has taken a clean-sweep in the Heavyweight crews. However, this year it was refreshing to see a more colourful spread across the crews. 

Princeton dominated the Lightweights winning the second and first Lightweight Varsity Eights (LV8) with tight margins over Harvard in both races. Harvard also had a great weekend, being the only college placing top four in all divisions. Harvard also claimed wins in the fourth and second Heavyweight Varsity Eights (HV8). Although not demonstrating the depth that has been seen in previous years, Yale certainly remained the dominant college winning the 3rd LVE and HVE.

In the first Varsity eight, the Yale crew coxed by Shore old-boy (2018 1st VIII), and now all-ivy representative, Harry Keenan, claimed the title by just over a second, setting the course record in a time of 5:23.619. To put this time into perspective, it is only 5 seconds off the world record, set by the Germans in 2017. The Yale crew was closely followed by Princeton in second, Syracuse in third and Harvard, Darmouth and Brown filling the remaining spots.

Heading into the final regatta, it is certainly shaping up to be an interesting race. Although Yale posted a blistering time compared to Cal in the Pac-12’s, the times cannot be compared due to the extremely different conditions. Although Yale’s competition was arguably more difficult, the Husky crew is not to be underestimated, having won their fair share of duels this season. Cal has achieved some very impressive wins, notably their win over the Canadian exhibition crew at the ‘San Diego Crew Classic’. Furthermore, when comparing the apparent psychology of the race, the Cal crew seems to be more in control of the race, dictating the field and racing on their own terms. At the top end of the field, the ranking is extraordinarily tight, which will make for exciting racing at the IRA’s as even the B-final will possess remarkably fast crews. The IRA’s will be held from June 2-4 2023, hosted by Princeton at Mercer Lake, West Windsor, New Jersey. The IRA’s will make for an exciting weekend, as the defending Cal-Crew goes into the regatta considered the favourite, the fast Yale and Princeton Crews will certainly be going out for an upset.