Oct. 24, 2004
BOSTON - The Aztecs, who competed in the collegiate varsity eight event, had their-best ever finish at the Regatta, completing the shortened course due to high winds in 13 minutes, 20.017 seconds. SDSU finished fifth, three years after placing 44th in a 53-team field in the fall of 2001.
"I'm very proud of our fifth-place finish," said second-year head coach Jennifer Zebroski. "We've made huge strides since I've been head coach and I look forward to us improving in the 2004-05 season."
The Minerva Rowing Club won the 50-team event with a time of 12:50.999, while Louisville was the top school from the United States (12:57.577). Louisville was followed by West Virginia (13:15.854), SUNY Buffalo (13:17.745) and San Diego State (13:20.017). Villanova (13:20.192) and Smith College (13:28.081) rounded out the top-seven.
The Head of the Charles, first held in 1965, is the largest two-day regatta in the world. Hosted by the Cambridge Boat Club, the event annually draws nearly 300,000 spectators and 7,000 athletes to the banks of the Charles River.
"Ali Abrams, our coxswain, did a great job keeping her course," added Zebroski. "It is a tough course and she was able to keep the rowers calm in the chaos of the Charles."
SDSU will host an alumni race and family fun day at Mission Bay Aquatic Center on Oct. 30 before participating in the San Diego Row for Cure on Oct. 31.