Columbia
Princeton, Georgetown
Lightweights? Northern Debut Features Solid Varsity Effort
4/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Lightweight Rowing
Columbia head lightweight coach Scott Alwin would certainly agree with that equation, after his varsity lightweight eight concluded a solid practice week with a solid race against Princeton and Georgetown on Lake Carnegie. The Lions' races were part of the Fosburgh Cup regatta, but Columbia was a guest in the regatta and not eligible for the cup.
“The varsity race capped a strong week of practice,” said Alwin, making his EARC head coaching debut. “It was good preparation for these races.”
Favored Princeton, one of the nation's top men's lightweight crews, won the race in 6:25.1 for the 2000-meter course, nine seconds better than Columbia's 6:34.9. The Lions did a good job in holding off Georgetown for the runner-up spot; the Hoyas were 2.7 seconds back in 6:37.6.
“Georgetown put up a great fight, and we were fortunate to stay almost a full length ahead of them,” Alwin said. He was pleased that the Lions were able to keep up with Princeton for at least part of the race. “Princeton is definitely one of the top teams,” he said. “We stayed with them for about one-third of the race. We're hoping to build on that for when we meet them again in the Sprints.”
Columbia fared less well in the second varsity and freshman races, finishing behind Princeton and Georgetown in both.
“They both had a shaky week of practice and it showed,” the coach said. “Actually, that was a change for Georgetown. They had a strong varsity eight last year, but their lower boats weren't that strong.”
The lightweights will make their 2008 home debut at Orchard Beach next Saturday, April 12, in the Wit Cup regatta with Rutgers and Navy.
The results:
Fosburgh Cup Regatta
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Lake Carnegie, Princeton, N.J.
Varsity Eights
1. Princeton, 6:25.1
2. Columbia, 6:34.9
3. Georgetown, 6:37.6
Second Varsity Eights
1. Princeton, 6:40.2
2. Georgetown, 6:44.6
3. Princeton 3V, 6:54.2
4. Columbia, 6:56.6
Freshman Eights
1. Princeton, 6:31.3
2. Georgetown, 6:34.8
3. Columbia, 6:43.7
