St. Joe's wins overall points title at Dad Vail

Saint Joseph's won the overall points trophy, Brock University became the first Canadian school to win the men's varsity heavyweight eight, and Cal-Sacramento took the women's varsity eight at the 72nd Dad Vail Regatta on Saturday on the Schuylkill River.

It marks the first time that Saint Joseph's has won the combined points trophy since 2006, when the Hawks captured it for the second consecutive year.

The Hawks finished second in both the men's and the women's standings.

Brock finished in 6 minutes, 28.35 seconds, and outdistanced Delaware and Florida Tech. Temple finished fifth. The Ontario school entered the regatta as the 12th-seeded boat.

Cal Sacramento won the women's race in 7:02.52, ahead of Saint Joseph's and Drexel.

The Hawks' women's varsity eight led the field for 1,700 meters but were overtaken behind the island when Sacramento State entered the protected water.

"We did a very good job of handling the trying conditions. Sac State rowed a great race and knew exactly where the advantages would be and took advantage of it," Saint Joseph's women's coach Gerry Quinlan said.

Saint Joseph's earned a medal in all seven finals races in which it qualified, finishing with a gold, two silvers and four bronze.

For the Temple men, the freshman/novice four won gold and the junior varsity eight won bronze.

Months ago, organizers had threatened to move the regatta to northern New Jersey. But a new sponsor, Aberdeen Assets Management Inc., was found and officials say the event will stay in Philadelphia at least through 2014.

The Dad Vail features more than 3,000 collegiate rowers from 120 schools in the United States and Canada.