BOSTON, Ma. – The Old Dominion University rowing team will compete for the first time in school history in the 49th Head of the Charles Regatta this Sunday, October 20 at 3:06 p.m. in Boston.
ODU head coach Daniel Garbutt spoke in detail about the week leading up to the race. “Nerve wracking. This is a young group that needs reps. Hopefully, the racing is safe and the ladies have a clean piece. If those things happen, I’m happy to be a part of this great regatta.”
The Lady Monarchs top varsity 8 will be competing against 38 other schools in the Women’s Championship Eights race. ODU’s lane number is 29 and the start time is scheduled for 3:06 p.m (eastern standard time) on October 20 in Boston.
“To have the opportunity to row at the Head of the Charles this year, is my rowing career coming full circle,” said ODU co-captain Paige Madison. “Ever since I started rowing in high school, this was the one race that I always dreamed about. To get the bid my senior year of college is surreal. To be able to attend such a prestigious event let alone race is an experience many rowers only dream about. I’m excited to see how we, as a team come together and compete at a national level. We’re stronger and faster than ever and I’m honored to represent ODU at this level of competition.”
Out of the 38 other schools and their participants ODU is by far the youngest. Their lineup in the Varsity 8 includes three freshman and three sophomores.
Click here to see the Women’s Championship Eights Lineup for Sunday-
https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/entries/competitors.jsp?job_id=3016&event_id=106
ODU Varsity 8 Lineup:
Coxen: Lydia Cleveland
8: Paige Madison
7: Raven Howser
6: Kara Stephan
5: Kelsea Shiner
4: Erin O’Connell
3: Kennedy Stafford
2: Marisa Fruetel
1: Keira Flanagan
The team will be leaving Thursday for Boston, practicing and preparing for the race on Friday before finally racing against the other schools Sunday.
“The Head of the Charles is by far one of the biggest and well known regattas,” said ODU co-captain Miranda Brown. “We have been talking about going since my freshman year and it’s crazy to think that ODU rowing will be there this weekend competing against some of the greatest teams. I am so excited to see how our varsity 8 performs this weekend! The team has been working so hard and now it’s time to show everyone what we have been working so hard for!”
Head of the Charles Regatta By the Numbers:
300,000: spectators anticipated on Race Weekend
88,420: Distance, in feet, of all the oars in the Regatta lined up blade-to-handle
9, 597: Number of athletes competing
2, 072: Number of boats rowing
721: Clubs Competing
36: States Represented
23: Countries Represented including the USA
3: length of miles of race course, all upstream
2: Teams in Boston that have been making noise (Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots),
1: Event this weekend in Boston that doesn’t concern baseball or football
Click here to see the results, once they come out after the races completed on Sunday- http://www.hocr.org/the-regatta/results/