Oct. 30, 2004
PHILADELPHIA, PA. -- The Head of the Schuylkill Regatta bills itself as the largest one-day regatta in the world. More than 7000 boats competed, not all of them representing the Columbia men's lightweight crews. It just seemed that way.
Actually, head coach Marc DeRose and his assistant, John Parker, divided their varsity and freshman rowers into five crews entered in four separate races.
Rather than enter the varsity eights in the lightweight championship eights race, the coaches split them into two fours, which competed in the Heavyweight Open Fours event. Heavyweights or lightweights, it made little difference to the Lions. Columbia's "B" and "A" boats, rowing as the Kings Crown Rowing Association (KCRA), finished third and fourth in the race, although the "A" boat was assessed a time penalty at the start, and placed seventh.
Penn AC won the race in 14:13.23, followed by the University of Rochester at 14:27.63. Both consisted of heavyweight rowers. Columbia "B" was third in 15:07.12 for the 2.5 mile competition, with the "A" boat's time adjusted to 15:27.62. Thirty-three boats completed the race.
The freshman eights made a sparkling debut in the Heavyweight Freshman race. The Lions were the first lightweight boat to finish, coming in third of 49 crews, behind only the heavyweight eights from Princeton (13:11.00) and Penn (13:13.04); Columbia was timed in 13:28.09.
A four-oared shell represented the Lions in the Men's Open Quad, posting another third place, of six. Malta/Potomac was victorious in 13:21.50, followed by Undine Barge Club, 13:31.03, and the Lions, 13:43.37. Penn AC, Undine "B", and John Hopkins trailed.
The junior varsity eight was the only Columbia lightweight crew to actually enter a lightweight race, going into the Lightweight Championship Eights. The second varsity finished fifth of 13, in 13:41.05. Navy "A" was the winner in 12:51.89, followed by Penn, Navy "B", and Marietta.
The day's races couldn't have gone much better for the coaches. "Coach Parker and I were very pleased," DeRose said.
Columbia competes in the Princeton Chase next Sunday on Lake Carnegie.
