Men's Rowing | May 10, 2024

CAMDEN, N.J. - Despite some early-day adversity, the La Salle men's rowing team had a banner day at the 85th Dad Vail Regatta on Friday. The Explorers advanced all three of their boats, including the top two varsity eights, to Saturday's grand finals and will race for three gold medals during afternoon competition.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The second varsity four, racing in the Betty Shaw shell, was the first crew to compete on the Cooper River and sprinted to the second-fastest time trial time at 7:56.089.
• Up next was the 17th-ranked second varsity eight, who were due to be the first to race in the time trial.
• A pre-race accident in the warmup area prevented the Explorers from taking their trip down the river.
• Following a brief break to quickly repair minor damage to the shell, La Salle was pushed to the end of the first varsity eight trials.
• With that, the first eight, who entered No. 18 in the nation, raced to the fourth-quickest time of time trials at 6:19.493.
• The second varsity eight returned to the river after the dustup and dusted the competition, quickly completing the course in 6:18.533.
• The time was by far the fastest amongst the second varsity eight competitors, bettering second-place Temple by over 26 seconds. 
• In afternoon competition, all three of the boats continued momentum by winning their semifinal races.
• The second varsity four took first in a time of 7:22.802, nearly 11 seconds quicker than the second fastest boat in its semifinal, Army West Point, and the fastest time of any semi.
• La Salle's second varsity eight defeated city rival Saint Joseph's in its semifinal heat by nearly six seconds, closing in a time of 6:29.306.
• In the final race of the day, the varsity eight advanced to the grand final with a seven-second win over Western Ontario.
• The V8's time was nearly identical to No. 17 Drexel, with the two teams separated by just six-hundredths of a second to set up a fantastic grand final race for the Richard O'Brien Trophy.
• The defending champion Dragons have won the trophy each of the last year, while La Salle is in search of its first varsity eight Dad Vail title since 1958.

RESULTS
Second Varsity Four (Betty Shaw Shell)
Time Trials
1. Drexel - 7:53.423
2. La Salle - 7:56.089
3. Marietta - 8:12.283

Semifinal Heat 2
1. La Salle - 7:22.802
2. Army West Point - 7:33.580
3. Georgia Tech - 7:37.424

Second Varsity Eight (L-Train Shell)
Time Trials
1. La Salle - 6:18.533
2. Temple - 6:44.619
3. Drexel - 6:48.939

Semifinal Heat 1
1. La Salle - 6:29.306
2. Saint Joseph's - 6:35.270
3. Rutgers - 6:44.682

First Varsity Eight (Jimmy Bagnell '87 Shell)
Time Trials
1. Drexel - 6:07.753
2. Temple - 6:14.277
3. Western Ontario - 6:15.287
4. La Salle - 6:19.493

Semifinal Heat 3
1. La Salle - 6:13.694
2. Western Ontario - 6:20.742
3. Stetson - 6:24.750

SATURDAY'S RACING SCHEDULE
Second Varsity Four - Grand Final
1:40 p.m.

Second Varsity Eight - Grand Final
2:12 p.m.

First Varsity Eight - Grand Final
5:00 p.m.