Full Results

BOSTON – The Boston University women’s rowing team came back from a length deficit at the halfway point to post a 1.6-second victory over No. 13 Radcliffe (Harvard) and capture the Allen-DeWolfe trophy in Saturday morning’s Charles River regatta. It marked just the second time that BU won the trophy since its inception in 1998, and it was the first Terrier victory in the event since 2001.

In extremely tough conditions with a crossing tailwind up to 10 miles-per-hour and choppy waters, Radcliffe took the edge off the start in the basin and grabbed an eight-seat lead by the 500-meter mark. Behind by a length at the split, the Terriers battled back, sticking to a patient stroke through the messy water to pull even by 1,500 meters, and then taking a four-seat lead into the home stretch for the win in 6:27.4, compared to Radcliffe’s time of 6:29.0.

Anticipating the difficult conditions, BU Head Coach Holly Hatton added weight to the boat and instructed her crew to stick to a lower stroke rate. Rowing at about 33.5 strokes per minute compared to 37 by Radcliffe, BU was able to avoid mistakes as the water got worse in the second half, while the opposition suffered.

“What an amazing second half,” said Hatton. “We rowed the conditions beautifully – we worked through the choppiness and stayed in our groove. We were consistent in our rate and made a move under [the Mass. Ave.] bridge, reeled them in and rowed out to the win.”
 
“It’s huge for us to come back through a crew like that – it’s like a rebirth of the season as we head into the Eastern Sprints,” continued Hatton.

Other wins for BU on the day came in both the varsity four “A” and “B” races, while the Terriers finished third behind two Radcliffe boats, but ahead of MIT in the novice eight, and second to Radcliffe in the second varsity eight.

The novices started off the morning with a time of 7:12.9, behind Radcliffe’s first (6:58.0) and second (7:06.5) boats. MIT was fourth in 7:14.3.

Next up was the second varsity eights, where Radcliffe pulled out to an early lead and gradually increased to a seven-second lead by the end of the 2,000-meter course, stopping the clock in 6:47.7, ahead of BU’s time of 6:54.8.

In the varsity four “B” race, the Terrier rowed out to open water by 1,000 meters, then increased their lead even further throughout the second half for an 18-second advantage at the finish line (BU – 7:54.3, Radcliffe – 8:12.0).

Finally, in the last race of the morning, the varsity four “A”, Radcliffe held a length at the half, with BU, MIT and Radcliffe’s second entry in tow. Again BU came back in the third 500 meters, taking a three-seat lead at the 1,500-meter mark and rowing home with open water. The Terriers time was 7:33.2, while Radcliffe was second in 7:39.9, MIT was third in 7:50.0 and Radcliffe’s second boat was fourth in 7:56.9.

With their dual season over, the Terriers will next travel to Camden, N.J., on May 14 for the Eastern Sprints.