NEW YORK — Columbia lightweight rowing is the new No. 1 team in the nation following the release of the week three IRCA/IRA Coaches Poll Wednesday. The Lions jumped six spots from last week's poll.
"In a league with great athletes, coaches, and teams, there are no off weekends," head coach
Nich Lee Parker said. "It's nice to be recognized for the results this past weekend, but there's a long way to go until the championships."
Columbia faces off against No. 2 Cornell this weekend for the Geiger Cup this Sunday in Ithaca, New York. The regatta is set to start at 8:30 a.m.
The IRCA/IRA Coaches Poll ranks the Top-25 D1/D2 varsity 8+s, the Top-15 D3 varsity 8+s, and all varsity lightweight programs' top boat.
"The lightweight boats had a great weekend with a tough fight against Yale in the Third Varsity Eight, a controlled win in the Second Varsity eight and a fantastic effort and show of composure in the First Varsity Eight," director of rowing Tom Terhaar said.
The Lions received four first place votes in the latest poll and are coming off a Dodge Cup victory over Penn and Yale last Saturday. Columbia also won the inaugural Charles P. Colgan Cup for team points on Saturday. Colgan was a Penn rower, who later coached at Columbia.
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