ORCHARD BEACH, N.Y. — Rowing its second taut race in as many days, Columbia's second varsity lightweight eight edged Dartmouth by 1.4 seconds Sunday to give the Lions their only victory in the Subin Cup regatta. The rowing on the Orchard Beach Lagoon marked the final home race of the season for any Columbia crew.
The Lions' varsity and freshman eights also rowed close, exciting races, but were not as fortunate, both falling to the Big Green.
The rain and fog that permeated the Lagoon early Sunday morning somewhat obscured the body of the course, but the second varsity saw its way clear. It crept out to a slight lead at the start, and built on it.
The Lions went up by just one seat at the beginning, increasing the scant margin by only a few more seats through the first 1000 meters. The third 500-meter section of the 2000-meter race proved decisive. Employing the same determination that had enable the 2V to stay with Cornell in the previous day's Geiger Cup, Columbia powered to a full length lead with just 500 meters to go.
The Big Green cut into that lead in the closing meters, but Columbia held on, winning in 6:15.5 to Dartmouth's 6:16.9.
Head lightweight coach
Scott Alwin praised his veteran stern four. "They did a very good job," he said, noting that the win marked Columbia's second in two years against the Dartmouth 2V. Alwin spotlighted senior stroke
Chris Williams, sophomore Jim Kahmann at 7, junior
Ryan Kavanaugh at 6, and senior Dave Mulhern at 5.
Alwin thought he'd see yet another "W" in the regatta's closing event, the varsity eights race for the Cup. After decrying the season-long absence of a "devastating" move in his post-Cornell discussion with the crew Saturday, one which would enable the Lions to move into or extend their lead, Alwin thought he was witnessing exactly that in the third 500 of the varsity race.
"Dartmouth was leading by about a length when we made our move," the coach recalled. "It was at about 1100 meters. It was pretty solid, similar to the one we made Saturday that enabled us to take control of second place.
"The move really cut Dartmouth's lead, and for a moment I thought I'd see us in side-by-side rowing. But Dartmouth was composed; they reeled themselves back in to the lead." The Green went on to win by 3.2 seconds.
Columbia's freshman eight also rowed well, staying close to a good Big Green frosh crew all race. Their failing, though, was allowing Dartmouth to take a lead in the first place. They matched the Green's speed for the last three quarters of the race, but never could overtake them.
"Our freshmen are a bunch of tough guys," Alwin said. "We're going to utilize that on the varsity when they are sophomores."
The race marked the final regular-season effort for Columbia's lightweights, who have three weeks before competing in the Eastern Sprints May 16 in Worcester, Mass., and the final cup competition for the varsity eight's five seniors. They include
Oskar Zorrilla, cox;
Jake Cushnie, stroke; captain
Bob Duff, 7;
Mike Nucci, 6; and
Chris Williams, 5.
The results:
The Subin Cup
Columbia and Dartmouth
April 25, 2010
Orchard Beach Lagoon
Varsity Eights1. Dartmouth, 6:03.6
2. Columbia, 6:06.8
Second Varsity Eights1. Columbia, 6:15.5
2. Dartmouth, 6:16.9
Freshman Eights1. Dartmouth, 6:33.3
2. Columbia, 6:35.7
