Champ Eights: US Rowing Wins Again

The US rowing ‘A’ boat finished first in the Champ Women’s Eights race this afternoon. (Photo by: Ben Crawley)

It was a dominant Sunday for the USRowing, besting international crews and all the colleges to walk away with wins in both the men’s and women’s Champ Eights.

The US women “A” and “C” boats went one-two in their race. They came up the course virtually even at the intermediate checkpoints and virtually even at the end. A’s final margin over C was scarcely two-tenths of a second, 16:11.313 to 16.11.528. Two international crews, the Danish national program, and Leander of Britain finished third and fourth. Yale was the top college crew in fifth and USRowing B, a boat comprised of the elite scullers who dominated yesterday’s singles and doubles race, finished sixth, 15 seconds behind their teammates.

In a race so close, and on a day so breezy, the coxswain’s line up the course is of paramount importance. Kaiitlyn Kynast, who stroked the runner-up boat, acknowledged the work of both USRowing coxswains.

“It really makes you respect our coxswain and all the work that they put in,” she said. “For the rowers, it’s the same race as everything else, but it’s really about the coxswain. They’re the ones who are making and breaking those seconds.”

The USRowing athletes haven’t always won at the Head of the Charles, but they’ve always been the celebrities of the FALS area, and the fact is not lost on the athletes.

“Even while we’re launching, people are asking for pictures. It just makes you feel so special and welcomed,” says Kynast. “I’m so grateful that The Head of the Charles has welcomed us into this madhouse, I love it.”

In the men’s race USRowing posted a five-second win over Harvard, with Princeton another second and a half behind. The Leander Boat Club of Britain, Yale and Northeastern rounded out the top six.

With the Head of the Charles now behind, the US national team rowers now turn their attention to next year’s Olympics in Paris. USRowing’s performances here at the HOCR is something to build on.

“We’re all really proud and really happy, and it’s really exciting to see all the training center eights so close together,” said Jess Thoeness of the C boat. “It means that the group is super strong and everybody’s coming together and doing the same thing. It’s another step towards Paris and that’s the exciting stuff.”

In the Men’s Champ Eights race on Sunday, the US rowing ‘A’ boat took home the first place title. (Photo by Ben Crawley)