Full Results

BOSTON – The No. 10 Boston University men’s crew team captured the Lusins Cup with a varsity win over Columbia, while falling to No. 9 Syracuse in the Conlan Cup on Saturday morning on the Charles River. The regatta was a dual-cup race and also featured victories by the BU second varsity and first freshman boats.

With a strong tailwind, but increasingly choppy water throughout the 2,000-meter course, the BU varsity eight got off to a good start, rowing neck-and-neck with Syracuse and holding a slight edge on Columbia. By the 500-meter mark, the Orange had a one-seat lead that continued to expand in the next quarter of the race. Using a strong push, Syracuse opened a five-seat lead by the halfway point, then held a length on the BU boat after crossing under the Mass. Ave. bridge.

Holding their own length advantage on Columbia, the Terriers made a push in the last 500 meters and momentarily gained a couple seats on Syracuse, before the Orange strengthened their stroke to maintain exactly a three-second advantage across the finish line in a time of 5:43.9, compared to BU’s 5:46.9. Columbia came up third in 5:52.5.

“It was a very good race, we just gave up too much in the second 500 meters,” said Terrier Head Coach Rodney Pratt. “We made a good push in the last 500, but it was too late.”

In the second varsity eight race, the Terriers performed well and were rewarded with victory. Again it was BU and Syracuse dead on off the start, but this time it was the Terriers who gained a seat by the 500-meter mark, then pulled out for a seven-seat lead by the split. Just after the bridge, the Orange tested the Terriers with a tough push, coming to within three or four seats. With a push of their own in the last quarter, the Terriers took just about a length lead home, crossing the finish in 5:54.4, ahead of Syracuse (5:56.9) and Columbia (6:24.2).

“Syracuse really put the pressure on in the third 500 meters, but we really just stuck with it and stayed calm,” said Pratt of the second varsity eights, who had two new rowers in the lineup.

Previous to the varsity eight races, the Terrier freshman boat picked up BU’s first win of the day, clocking in at 6:07.4, compared times of  6:10.3 and 6:18.0 by Columbia and Syracuse, respectively.

“Between the three boats, [BU] handled the conditions the best, which showed a lot of class,” said BU Freshman Coach Dave Lefevbre of the Terrier rookie boat. “They stayed aggressive throughout the rough water and got ahead.”

Finally, in the first race of the morning, the third varsity four, BU came up with a time of 6:55.2, behind both Syracuse boats (6:38.7 and 6:47.9), and a Northeastern boat (6:28.9).

The Terriers will travel to Wisconsin for regattas with Oregon State on Saturday, April 29, and Wisconsin and MIT (Jablonic Cup) on Sunday, April 30.