The Princeton Chase was exactly that — a chase. Forced to start from the back, the Blue Devils set their sights on the boats ahead, determined to gain ground with every stroke.
“We wanted to stay relaxed, we wanted to stay composed, and we wanted to stay confident in what we were doing,” head coach Adrian Spracklen said.
Duke went up against a field of 17 teams and 65 entries at the Nov. 3 regatta, competing against crews ranging as far apart as Oklahoma to Dartmouth. Three varsity boats of Blue Devils competed in the Women’s Open 8-plus, placing two in the top 25. The opportunity to compete with bigger, more competitive schools was a preview of the challenges that lie ahead in the spring.
“It was a good opportunity just to get into a bigger event with a lot of atmosphere and a lot of energy and to really give us a feel for how we do in these sorts of situations,” Spracklen said.
Along with the competitive field, the Princeton Chase specifically presented a distinct challenge of its own. Unlike spring races, where boats line up side by side, fall racing operates on a time trial format, with crews starting at intervals determined by their previous year’s standings. Since Duke did not race last year, the team was placed towards the back and faced an upstream battle.
“It’s a very different type of format, and there’s a very different strategy that you use to do that,” Spracklen said.
Duke’s three boats set off in the morning determined to catch up to the crews ahead, but the task was easier said than done. The V8 crew — consisting of coxswain Audrey Kline and rowers Chloe Zollman, Elizabeth May, Lena Mills, Florine Lijesen, Noelle Fuchs, Samantha Schalk, Vivienne Foley and Justine Medveckus — found themselves stuck behind three boats during the race, a situation difficult to navigate.
“It’s what racing is all about … sometimes you get caught behind a crew and it's hard to pass them, or you don't get the perfect line, and so it can slow you up sometimes, or throw you out of your rhythm,” Spracklen said.
Facing the turbulent waters caused by the crews ahead, the Blue Devils had to push ahead with both composure and confidence. In only its second competition of the season, it was a crucial opportunity to assess what Duke’s team was truly capable of.
“The proof is always in the pudding,” Spracklen said. “We all know that teams can be great practice teams and sometimes not do so well in competition and vice versa.”
These Blue Devils proved that practice makes progress. The Varsity Eight crew narrowly outpaced top crews from Princeton and Harvard’s Radcliffe crew to secure a 12th-place finish with a time of 14:28 — showcasing their strength in the face of adversity. The Second Varsity Eight followed with a 24th place finish and a time 14:46, as Duke's Third Varsity Eight was closely behind in 28th to close out the day of competition.
“I was very pleased with how the team carried themselves, with the way they executed the races that we put in for them, and the way they presented themselves very well. It was a very good outing for us,” Spracklen said.
Duke’s next regatta is set for Sunday Nov. 10 at the Rivanna Romp Head Race in Charlottesville, Va. With back-to-back races, the Blue Devils face a quick turnaround, but the team is eager to hit the water again.
“I'm excited to race again. I think everybody is because we know once this race is over, we come off the water, Spracklen said. “I think everybody's kind of sad we're coming off the water, but very excited about what we have on the horizon in the spring.”
Looking even further ahead, Spracklen and the Blue Devils are concentrating on the big picture — preparing for the intensity of competition in April and May.
“Everything we're doing now is a building block toward that goal,” Spracklen said. “The way it's coming together is right on course.”
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