19th Annual GW Invitational Crew Classic Set For Saturday
5/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing
April 7, 2006
April 7, 2006
Schedule of Races in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
WASHINGTON, DC -- The 19th annual George Washington Invitational Crew Classic will be held on Saturday, April 8, on the Potomac River race course. The event is part of the 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival, happening from March 25 to April 9. The George Washington University rowing program hosts the event, which has traditionally been the largest collegiate rowing competition in the Washington metropolitan area. For the first time in its 19-year history, this year's event will feature men's-only competition.
Preliminary heats begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by the finals scheduled to begin at 1:30 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 3:30 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 crews from eight universities, including the host Colonials, will compete in the day-long event with more than 150 rowers expected to take part. Men's squads from The George Washington University, Georgetown University, the University of Virginia, the U.S. Naval Academy, Marietta (OH) College, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Southern California and Saint Joseph's University will compete for the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point Trophy.
Collegiate men's events this year will include: Varsity Eights, 2nd Varsity Eights, Varsity Fours, Freshman Eights, 2nd Freshman Eights and Freshman Fours.
Last year, Virginia scored 67 points to capture the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point Trophy, 16 points ahead of GW (51 points) which placed second of 12 teams. The U.S. Naval Academy was third with 46 points, one point ahead of Georgetown (45 points). Points were awarded based on finish in the grand final races and petite finals. Navy won the men's varsity eight for the third straight year by outracing Virginia by more than seven seconds.
Admission is free.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival®, Washington, D.C. is an annual two-week, city-wide event featuring daily cultural performances by local, national and international entertainers. Other events include art exhibits, fireworks, tours, arts & crafts demonstrations, sports competitions and special events celebrating spring.The 2006 festivalwill be held March 25 - April 9 and is highlightedby the Family Day & Opening Ceremony on Saturday, March 25; and the Southwest Airlines Presents the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival® and the Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival on Saturday, April 8. The 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival® celebrates the 94th Anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the citizens of the United States and Japan. Visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.