Columbia
Rutgers
Varsity Heavyweights Retain Collins Cup with Strong Showing
3/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Heavyweight Rowing
PELHAM, N.Y. -- Columbia's varsity heavyweight crew overcame both Rutgers and extremely difficult racing conditions to retain the Collins Cup with an impressive victory by a margin of more than two lengths.
The Lions captured the second varsity race as well, a much closer contest, losing only the freshman eights event.
Despite sub-40 degree temperatures and strong moisture-laden winds coming off nearby Long Island Sound that produced rough water conditions, Columbia's crews overcame the conditions to produce excellent efforts in their first northern effort of the spring.
"We did a very excellent job [taking away] any advantage Rutgers had," head coach Mike Zimmer said of his varsity. "We took control of the race after 600 meters."
Columbia opened up a two-boat length lead by 1000 meters, the halfway point, and retained it the rest of the way. They covered the 2000-meter Orchard Beach Lagoon course in 6:05.0 to Rutgers' 6:13.47.
The Lions' performance was even more impressive considering that they were just seven days removed from warm-weather training in Florida. They had concluded that week with a disappointing showing in the Governor's Cup Regatta in Palm Bay last Saturday, so the Rutgers race demonstrated a impressive turnaround.
"We made adjustments from last week," Zimmer said, explaining that his rowers seemed to approach that race with the same attitude they would for an ordinary practice, "This week we worked on our focus and intensity."
The second varsity also looked good in a taut, intense contest, especially after getting off slowly due to rough water at the start. They led for the entire second half, holding off the charging Scarlet Knights to win by three seats in 6:10.51 to 6:13.17.
"I'm really proud of them," Zimmer said. "After a floating start, it was really close for 1000 meters. Then we punched it out. We had a good, strong row for the body of the race, something we had talked about. It was a very solid effort."
Rutgers won the final event of the day impressively, taking the freshman eights in 6:21.71 by four lengths over Columbia's 6:38.01. It was a letdown for the Lions, who had performed very well both in Florida and during the past week.
"They were not able to row their best race," freshman coach Hank Osborn said. "They had to overcome cold, windy and rough conditions." Even if they had, he said, "it would have been a challenge to beat this strong Rutgers crew." Mike Zimmer agreed, noting that the Rutgers freshmen looked very good.
The varsity victory was Columbia's second straight in the Collins Cup series, and evened its Cup record at 3-3. The Lions won the inaugural race in 2001, but Rutgers had taken the next three. The Cup was a gift of Kevin J. and Helen D. Collins, both of whom are Rutgers graduates. Kevin Collins also holds a graduate degree from Columbia.
The Lions return to the New York Athletic Club's Orchard Beach course next Saturday to meet Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the Alumni Cup. Army will also row in the event, which is scheduled to start around noon. Race times will be announced later this week.
The results:
Varsity Eights (Collins Cup)
1. Columbia, 6:05.0
2. Rutgers, 6:13.47
Second Varsity Eights
1. Columbia, 6:10.51
2. Rutgers, 6:13.17
Freshman Eights
1. Rutgers, 6:21.71
2. Columbia, 6:38.01
