The ODBC Mens First 8 at the Oct. 9 Occoquan Challenge. Photo Contributed
Stiff breezes from the remnants of Hurricane Matthew did not deter the men from the Old Dominion Boat Club (ODBC) first 8 crew team as they swept a field of 12 upper class boats to win the 2016 Occoquan Challenge Regatta on Sunday, Oct. 9. The OBDC men finished the 5000 meter race with a time of 12:03.44, 3 seconds ahead of second place Resilient Rowing and over 31 seconds ahead of third place Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
"Because of the extreme winds, at first the race felt a little frenzied," said T.C. Williams senior Asher Elkins, "but the boat was really focused and we pulled it out in the end."
ODBC men's head coach Peter Stramese was pleased with Sunday's results. "This year's ODBC squad is the largest in several years, and includes many tough, talented athletes. After a few days of selection, and racking and stacking, it's great to see results that these guys are capable of producing. The next few weeks should produce big things from our younger crews too."
Along with the men's first 8, 10 other ODBC boats competed in seven races as they enter the heart of the fall rowing season. In the 12-boat women's upper class category, the ODBC first 8 women finished 2nd with a time of 13:31.43 behind first place Resilient Rowing, and the ODBC lightweight women claimed third with a time of 13:39.81. The ODBC men's lightweight 8 also finished third, with a time of 12:51.56, in a race that pitted these high schoolers against 7 boats from local colleges.
In the women's lower boat category, the ODBC fourth 8 bested a 9-boat field with a time of 14:45.72. The ODBC frosh women's 8 also won their race against two other crews with a time of 16:02.5.
ODBC rowers return to Occoquan on Sunday, Oct. 16, for the 2016 Occoquan Chase Regatta.