NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion Rowing completed its first race day of the new year against Saint Joseph’s with the V4+, 2V8+, and the V8+ boats all securing victory.
“ODU had a great day of racing for our first race of the year. SJU was quick off the line in most of the events. Each ODU boat (2V4+, V4+, 2V8+, & V8+) stuck to their race plan. We wanted to get off the line clean and stay in contact with SJU through the first 500 meters. The 2nd Varsity 4+ started off the day with what was a tough fought first 1200 meters. The last 800 meters it was ODU in control of the race and pushing away from SJU to the finish line,” said ODU Head Coach Brian Conley.
ODU’s V4+ boat gained its lead in the earliest fashion and crossed the 1000m marker with a large lead over the Hawks. The 2V8+ boat was in close contention with its opposition and made a move around the 1000m mark to gain the lead and maintained it to another ODU victory.
“Our Varsity 4+ was able to gain the lead the earliest of all the ODU boats and had a half-length of open water before the 1000m mark. The 2nd Varsity 8+ kept things close and exciting in the first 1000m of the race. The 2V8+ took a move at the 1000m mark and gained the lead and were able to maintain that new speed until the finish, pushing out to a nine second margin of victory,” added Conley.
In the final race of the day, ODU’s V8+ boat was trailing by close to a full length 500m into it before ODU came level with the boat from Saint Joseph’s by the 1000m mark. Then, with approximately 300m remaining ODU broke into open water and created distance, securing a win eight seconds ahead of the Hawks.
“The Varsity 8+ was the last race of the day during the peak of the slack tide. With the calm conditions, SJU was very quick off the line. SJU’s Varsity 8+ was nearly a full length up on ODU 500 meters into the race. We stayed calm and rowed a lower base rhythm for the middle of the race. We came level with SJU at the 1000m mark and focused on negative splitting the remainder of the race. Getting quicker each 250m. With about 300 meters to go we were able to break open water and walk away with an eight second win, completing the full day of successful racing,” added Conley.
“We have raced SJU each of the last two years and SJU has always gotten the better of us. This year, the team has developed immensely from top to bottom and it showed today. The coaches have been looking at our data and seeing we had gotten faster in every data point since last year, but you never really know until you line up against someone. SJU is always a tough opponent at the start of the season and it was great to see the Monarchs come out on top and support each other as each boat came down the course.” said Conley.
UP NEXT:
ODU Rowing heads to Sarasota, Florida for the first Regatta of the spring season for the Sunshine Invitational that will be held from March 28-29.