Women's Rowers Lose Woodbury Cup to Northeastern
4/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
BOSTON, MASS. -- One year ago, the Columbia women's rowing program inaugurated the Woodbury Cup by surprising Northeastern at Orchard Beach. The Huskies avenged that loss today in the second running of the Cup when they defeated Columbia in the varsity race by more than five seconds to even the Cup series at one each. That gave them possession of the Cup, established in honor of the late Melanie Woodbury, a Barnard graduate who captained the Columbia women's team.
Northeastern, under the direction of Joe Wilhelm, former Columbia men's and women's coach, dominated the regatta on the Charles River, winning all but one race. The Huskies also won the novice eights, second novice eights, and varsity fours. Columbia posted its only victory when it won the second varsity race by less than two seconds, 7:10.95 to 7:12.62.
The Huskies led the entire 2000 meters in the varsity race. Opening up a half-length lead after 500 meters, they expanded it to one full length at the 1000-meter mark, and then concentrated on maintaining the margin for the second 1000 meters. They were timed in 7:11.73 to Columbia's 7:17.21.
Northeastern won the varsity fours by 18 seconds over MIT, which competed in two events, with Columbia 12 seconds behind the Engineers; took the novice eights by nine seconds over the Lions; and won the second novices by 12 seconds against Columbia.
Next Saturday, Columbia travels to Ithaca, N.Y., to face Brown and Cornell. A starting time has not been determined.
The results:
Varsity Eights (Woodbury Cup)
1. Northeastern, 7:11.73
2. Columbia, 7:17.21
Second Varsity Eights
1. Columbia, 7:10.95
2. Northeastern, 7:12.62
Novice Eights
1. Northeastern, 7:37.00
2. Columbia, 7:46.92
3. MIT, 7:49.34
Second Novice Eights
1. Northeastern, 7:48.20
2. Columbia, 8:00.38
Varsity Fours
1. Northeastern, 8:22.87
2. MIT, 8:41.49
3. Columbia, 8:54.11
