17th Annual GW Invitational Crew Classic Set For Saturday
4/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
April 9, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC - The 17th annual George Washington Invitational Crew Classic will be held on Saturday, April 10, on the Potomac River race course. The event is part of the 2004 National Cherry Blossom Festival, happening from March 27 to April 11. The George Washington University rowing program hosts the event, which is the largest collegiate rowing competition in the Washington metropolitan area.
Preliminary heats begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by the finals scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. The 2,000-meter, four-lane buoyed course begins near the Spout Run area of the Potomac River with the finish line at Washington Harbour in Georgetown. An awards ceremony will follow the competition at approximately 4:00 p.m. at Washington Harbour. GW Rowing is headquartered at Thompson Boat Center near the intersection of Rock Creek Parkway and Virginia Avenue, NW.
Men's and women's crews from 13 universities, including the host Colonials, will compete in the day-long event with more than 400 rowers expected to take part. Men's and women's squads from George Washington, Georgetown, George Mason, Saint Joseph's and the U.S. Naval Academy will compete for the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point Trophy. Also competing will be men's crews from Marietta, Temple and Virginia along with women's crews from Iowa, Princeton, Southern California, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Men's and women's categories this year include: varsity eights, second varsity eights, varsity fours, novice eights and second novice eights.
Last year, Navy won the Hood Point trophy with 46 points followed by host George Washington (37) and Tennessee with 32. Tennessee won the women's varsity eight while Navy won the men's varsity eight.
Admission is free. For schedules and information on the 2004 National Cherry Blossom Festival visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org or phone 202-547-1500.