The Columbia heavyweight rowing team continued its winning streak this weekend, defeating both MIT and Holy Cross to take the Alumni Cup for the fifth year in a row. This was the third consecutive first-place finish for the Lions, giving them a 3-0 record to open the spring season. The lightweight team and the women’s team did not fare as well this weekend, as the lightweights finished third in both of their tri-matches and the women finished second behind Princeton at the Murtaugh Cup.
The heavyweight team entered the Alumni Cup ranked eighth in the nation and proved that they deserved that ranking. The Light Blue varsity eight boat defeated 20th-ranked MIT by just under two seconds, crossing the finish line in 3:38.96 just outpacing the Engineers who finished in 3:40.86. Holy Cross finished almost six seconds later, in a time of 3:46.40.
Columbia was also triumphant in the second varsity race, finishing the race in a time of 7:25.8, almost half a minute ahead of the Crusaders, who crossed the line in 7:52.4. MIT did not compete in the second varsity race.
The Lions did stumble slightly in the freshman eight race, finishing in 3:52.86 behind MIT, which finished first with a time of 3:40.9. Holy Cross came in at 3:59.48.
Next up for the heavyweight squad is the Childs Cup in Princeton, N.J. on Saturday.
The lightweight team competed in two tri-matches on Saturday, the first against Princeton and Navy, and the second against Harvard and Georgetown. In their first race of the day, the Lions fell to both Princeton and Navy in the varsity eight race, the second varsity race, and the freshman eight race.
In the first varsity race, the first-ranked Tigers finished in a time of 5:58.0, just ahead of the third-ranked Midshipmen who came in at 6:01.3. The seventh-ranked Lions finished over twenty seconds later, in a time of 6:22.9.
In the second varsity race, it was Navy who came out on top, finishing just four seconds ahead of Princeton with a time of 6:12.4. The Light Blue came in 14 seconds behind Navy (ten seconds behind the Tigers), with a time of 6:26.4. The freshmen eight boat also came in last, with a time of 6:22.2.
Following the matchup against Navy and Princeton, Columbia faced fifth-ranked Harvard and sixth-ranked Georgetown on Saturday. The Lions’ varsity eight boat finished in third with a time of 6:26.4, behind the Crimson (6:14.5) and the Hoyas (6:18.4).
The Light Blue finished in third in the second varsity and the freshman races.
Next up for the lightweights is the Dodge Cup which will take place on their home course this Saturday.
The women’s rowing team took part in the Murtaugh Cup this weekend, where it competed against Princeton and Rutgers. The seventh-ranked Tigers took first place in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four A, and varsity four B races. In the varsity eight race, Princeton finished in a time of 6:13.49, with the Lions coming in second with a time of 6:32.38. The Scarlet Knights finished third with a time of 6:39.74. The Light Blue also finished in second place in the second varsity, varsity four A, and varsity four B races.
The Lions’ only victories were in the freshman eight race and the freshman four race. Princeton did not compete in either event.
The women will head to Washington, D.C., next weekend for the George Washington Invitational.
