Men's Rowing | April 20, 2024
PHILADELPHIA - For the second straight weekend, the No. 19 La Salle University men's rowing team claimed gold in the Varsity 8, this time defeating city rival and No. 16 Drexel in a photo finish to claim the Kerr Cup for the first time since the 2010 season.
The Explorers earned a victory over the Dragons for the second time this year, this time by just 0.6 seconds to win their second cup in as many weeks. The men's varsity four also picked up a win, while the second varsity eight won silver.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the heat rounds, both the varsity and second varsity eights picked up wins to secure prime lanes for the final.
- The first boat to race in the final was the men's varsity four, who closed in 6:38.8 to win gold over Lafayette by nearly six seconds.
- Three races later, the men's varsity eight was pitted against Drexel and the showdown was a hard-fought battle that went down to the wire.
- La Salle took an early lead through the first 1,000 meters, before the Dragons, who hosted the event, pulled closer down the stretch.
- The two teams battled neck and neck to the finish line, with La Salle crossing in 5:44.2, just ahead of Drexel's time of 5:44.8.
- Rounding out racing was the second varsity eight, who took second place in a time of 5:56.2 - just 4.2 seconds off the pace set by Drexel.
UP NEXT
- La Salle will take on city rivals Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Drexel on the Schuylkill River for the Bergen Cup on Saturday, April 27.
RESULTS
Varsity 8
Heat 1
- La Salle - 5:56.9
- Saint Joseph's - 5:59.4
- Fairfield - 6:15.2
Final
- La Salle - 5:44.2
- Drexel - 5:44.8
- Saint Joseph's - 5:56.4
Second Varsity 8
Heat 1
- La Salle - 5:58.4
- Saint Joseph's - 6:04.2
- Drexel B - 6:05.6
Final
- Drexel - 5:52.0
- La Salle - 5:56.2
- Drexel B - 6:03.9
Varsity 4
Final
- La Salle - 6:38.8
- Lafayette A - 6:44.6
- Iona - 6:58.4
