Dad Vail Regatta ready to push off
More than 120 schools will race tomorrow and Saturday on the Schuylkill.
The 70th Dad Vail Regatta, scheduled for tomorrow and Saturday on the Schuylkill, will feature 124 entries, six more than last year, organizers said this week.
College crews will compete in the nation's largest college regatta in more than 150 races in 19 classifications.
Teams will begin arriving today for weigh-ins and practice runs.
Tomorrow at 7 a.m., the first of the daylong heats are set to go off. The semifinals will begin Saturday at 7 a.m., followed by finals in the afternoon.
By the end of Saturday, 57 boats will leave Philadelphia with medals.
Here is how some of the teams rate themselves for the big weekend.
"St. Joe's returns to the Dad Vail with six core members of our 2007 silver-medalist varsity eight," said Gerard Quinlan, the women's coach at St. Joseph's. "Practically every member of our varsity boats was in the Dad Vail finals last year. Our freshman eight has lost only one race this season and that was to nationally ranked Clemson. We feel strong entering into the championship portion of our season.
"There is a lot of parity on the women's side. The difference in speed among the top 12 or 15 teams is very slight. The team that does not make a mistake will win."
Temple men's coach Gavin White said Purdue appeared to be the team to beat.
"We have a pretty experienced crew, but we've had our ups and downs," White said of the Owls.
