Division 1 Eights
The collegiate women Division I eight category has 14 entries, with only four programmes entering boats into the race: Yale, Fordham, Lehigh, and Sacred Heart.
Yale
The Bulldogs placed eighth in the NCAA Rowing Championships last year and are the strongest programme among those competing. Not only is Yale a strong team, but they also train on the Housatonic River every day, which means their coxswains will be taking the fastest racing line.
Sacred Heart
This program had a solid finish last year by placing second in the MAAC conference. Perhaps the athletes were inspired over the summer by Saige Harper, a Sacred heart alum from the class of 2024, who raced at the Paralympic Games.
Lehigh
The Mountain Hawks had a disappointing end to their season last spring when they placed eighth out of nine at the Patriot league Championships. Lehigh has only entered two eights into the regatta whereas all other teams are bringing four.
Fordham
The Rams are a program on the rise. They are slowly climbing up the ranks in the A10 conference, as evidenced by their fourth-placed finish this year.
Prediction
Yale will take one to four with all their boats. Then, Fordham, Sacred Heart, and Lehigh’s A boats, followed by B, C, and D boats in the same order.
Non-Division 1 Eights
Only two programs are entered in the non-Division 1 category. Trinity College Hartford and the US Coast Guard Academy each have three boats entered, coming from Hartford, CT, and New London, CT, respectively.
Trinity College, Hartford
Although the lineups for either program are not available until race day, the recent history of both programs gives Trinity the advantage for this particular dual. Last year, Trinity ended fourth in the DIII NCAA Championship in a very strong field. Trinity will be looking to use this opportunity to establish dominance in the DIII categories from the offset.
US Coast Guard Academy
The US Coast Guard Academy is also sending three boats this year. In their regional championships last spring, including Trinity, their varsity eight ended 11th overall. This first race of the year down the Housatonic will be a great test of how this year’s program stacks up against great competition.
Prediction
Trinity for the win.
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