In one of the final Autumn regattas of the year, the Princeton Chase Women’s Open 8+ category hosts a range of competitive entries that will compete down the 3-mile stretch in one of the most unique races of the year. With top Charles results under the belts of many programs, teams will test their strength one last time before Winter training.
Princeton University
The favorites this year are none other than the Princeton women themselves. They enter this season as top east-coast performer at NCAAs 2023, although they did not seem to have their best performance at the Head of the Charles, finishing 6th. They will have been especially disappointed to fall 15 seconds to Yale, who are amiss from this weekend’s racing. Here, Princeton have the home course advantage, and by far, are the dominant program of entry, but this is often expected at the Chase.
University of Pennsylvania
A program who has rose to the occasion over the past few years is Pennsylvania, who, with a a change of coaching staff, rose to be a top contender in the Ivy league. Now, again with a new coach and their former at UVA, will they carry this same momentum? They have yet to overcome Princeton, still often matching pace with the likes of Yale and Brown. This year’s Princeton Chase could be a great moment for Penn to give it their all and give them the confidence they need to power into the Winter, knowing the top of their league is in reach.
University of Virginia
For the first time without leadership of Kevin Sauer and instead under new coach Wesley Ng, UVA have battled it out this autumn, ending with this final race in Princeton. UVA finished an impressive 10th overall at Charles, with only 8 seconds between them a Princeton — a margin which Princeton sometimes open over 2k. Hence, UVA will be gunning to get Princeton over the 3-mile distance. Coach Ng was able to gather incredible momentum during his time with Penn, and the women at UVA will hope to for this rise too.
Clemson University
A fair mention as Clemson often does not compete with many of these North East-based programs, and having made the journey from South Carolina, Clemson may be poised to be a surprise from the South. It will be very fun to see how they stack up against programs such as Penn, Dartmouth, and Radcliffe, among others, especially as Clemson, too, is a program on the rise.
Prediction:
I belive Princeton will take top spot. With the home course advantage of knowing the best line, and being a historically successful program, Princeton look poised to again take the win at home. However, Virginia and Penn may not be too far off, and on the right day, could even threaten an upset.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
