Sports

Arlington/Belmont Crews Face Wind, Competition at Head of the Charles

It was a brilliant day to be on the banks of the Charles River yesterday: bright sunshine and a high near 60 degrees and a slight breeze on the shore.

Not so much on the water.

Crews of rowers faced stiff winds heading up the Charles River on Sunday, Oct 20, during the second and final day of 49th annual Head of the Charles Regatta, the world's largest rowing competition. 

And for the three Arlington/Belmont Crew boats that took off for the bend-filled route – the AB crew practice on Arlington's Spy Pond – near the Boston University Bridge, it would be hard work along the already difficult three-mile course (most standard high school races are 1,000 meters or just over a half mile).

In the Youth Fours Women-High School category, the ABC "A" squad of Nicole Merullo, coxswain; Julia Blass, Bow; Sara Hamilton, seat 2; Julia Cydzik, 3 and Catherine Tiffany, stroke finished in 21 minutes, 32.5 seconds for 45th place, picking up the pace to finish the final-half mile in 3 minutes and 31.2 seconds, at a much higher rate than many boats in front of them.

The ABC "B" boat, filled with young novice rowers – made up of Andrea Abanto, coxswain; Sarah Kolenbrander, Bow; Olivia Fan, seat 2; Marisa Puma, 3 and Alexandra McElhoe, stroke – finished a bit in the back in 81st in 24:22 also finishing with a kick.

In the Youth Eights Women-High School division, ABC's only boat, also a "B" or novice classification comprising of Ellen Cayer, coxswain; Cailin Abouzeid, Bow; Olivia Cronin, seat 2; Anna VanBenschoten, 3; Jessica Keniston, 4; Linnea Berryman, 5; Bridget Kiejna, 6; Alice Liu, 7, and Ines Benyamina, stroke, just missed out in finishing under 20 minutes, crossing the finish line in Brighton in 20:06.4 in 63rd place. Once again, the ABC squad sprinted home the final half mile in 3:11, faster than boats that finished several dozen places in front of them. 

Over on the boys side of the ledger, Belmont Hill School's "A" boat – with Cole Durbin, coxswain; Matthew Ryan, bow; Alexander Richards, seat 2; Alex Bailey, 3 and Mac Manion, stroke – flew down the twisty course to take fourth in the Youth Fours Men-High School division in 17:31.3, just 20 seconds behind the winners from Long Beach, California.

Belmont Hill's "B"'s crossed the line in 19:57.4 for 78th, with Mihir Gulati, coxswain; Cameron Douglas, bow; Henry Dodge, seat 2; George Holderness, 3 and Will Crowley, stroke in the boat. 

And in the Directors' Challenge Quad (four scullers rowing two oars each), the crew of Belmont Hill alumni earning a 1 minute, 14 second handicap as they averaged 57 years old came in 19th in 17:51.1. Congratulations to Mark Findeis, bow; Jon White, seat 2; Timothy Fulham, 3 and Daniel Schley rowing stroke. 

Next up for the Arlington/Belmont crew is this coming Sunday's Massachusetts Public School Rowing Association's Fall Championships on Lake Quinsigamond near Worchester where the Girls' Fours is the defending champions. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Belmont