Henley-on-Thames, England — It might not be the Fourth of July, but the Third will suffice. The Americans stormed out of the gates this morning at the Henley Royal Regatta, winning three races to capture gold.
Cal-Berkley's lightweight eight matched its own course record in a dominant victory over Holland's ASR Nereus to win the Temple Challenge Cup for student eights. Cal won by 4 1/2 lengths in 6:12 — just three seconds off the German National Team's time in its victory in the Ladies' Challenge Plate finals. No crew finished within a length of Cal in any of its five races this week — Harvard's freshmen eight was its closest competition, finishing within 1 1/4 length.
The U.S. national world champion women's eight, rowing as Princeton Training Center, also equaled its own course record on the River Thames in beating the British National Team (labeled Leander Club and Gloucester Rowing Club) in 6:38 to capture the Remenham Challenge Cup. The American team shattered records in each of its three races at Henley.
Despite trailing at the Barrier and Fawley, Harvard came from behind to upend Oxford Brookes University and win the Prince Albert Challenge Cup in the opening race of the day. Thanks to a commanding performance over the finals 1,000 meters, Harvard won the student coxed fours event by 1 3/4 lengths.
When racing resumes this afternoon, the United States will have three more opportunities to claim gold.
At 3:00, Chula Vista Training Center will be opposed by Leander/Molesey in the Stewards' Challenge Cup finals.
Immediately following, at 3:10, St. Andrew's (Middletown, Del.) will try to gun-down England's Abingdon School to become just the fourth American crew since 1995 to win the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup in the junior eights.
In the final race of the day, the women from Princeton Training Center will try to go 2-for-2 in Henley championship races. The U.S. quad from Princeton will face a strong crew from Australia with the Princess Grace Challenge Cup (named after Philadelphia's Grace Kelly) on the line.
Check back later for more updates.
PHOTO CREDIT: Henley Royal Regatta (http://www.hrr.co.uk)
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