By Matt McFarland
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, April 13, 2008

After winning their heats at the Smokey Jacobs Regatta, the Robinson and Jefferson girls' varsity eight boats appeared set on a collision course to re-create the thrilling finish to last year's Virginia State Championships, which the Rams won by 1.6 seconds. But because of equipment failure and an actual collision, the rematch will have to wait.

"I really wish that hadn't happened," said Robinson Coach Rob Wasalaski, whose girls' varsity eight won the 1,500-meter race in 5 minutes 38.1 seconds. "I don't think we have an assessment of where everyone is because of T.J. having equipment problems."

One stroke into Jefferson's race on the Occoquan River, a seat in its boat detached. To fix the problem, the Colonials stopped rowing. Robinson stopped rowing as well, after seeing an official wave a flag. But with most of the field still rowing, the Rams realized the race hadn't been stopped. Under the rules, the malfunction wasn't reason enough to stop the race.

Once the seat was reattached, the Colonials began to close on the pack.

But their bad luck wasn't over. Woodbridge, racing in the lane next to Jefferson, veered out of its lane, smacking oars with the Colonials.

"A disaster," was how Jefferson girls' coach Matt Shoop described the race.

"There were flags waving and boats crashing into each other," Robinson senior Lindsay Oakley said of the race.

Her boat, anchored by six seniors, managed to avoid the trouble. The group has rowed together all four years at Robinson. "Everyone loves each other. We're always smacking another around. It's like 52 sisters," senior Bianca Arrington said.

After the race, Woodbridge acknowledged leaving its lane. According to the rules, the offending boat is placed a spot behind the victim. However, this did Jefferson no good, as it had rallied in the final 500 meters to overtake Woodbridge. The Colonials finished fifth overall, in 5:52.1.

"I told them to think about it for today and then erase it," Shoop said.

In the boys' varsity eight final, Jefferson won easily in 4:50.6, beating second-place McLean by 9.4 seconds. The race was delayed several hours after the rudder cable on Robinson's shell broke.

The Colonials, who graduated eight seniors from last year, didn't appear to be affected by the delay or the loss of experience.

"We know we'll always be compared to last season," captain Chris Gear said, referring to the team that won the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. "But we want to go out and create our own legacy."

Smokey Jacobs Regatta Let It Rain: Many of the races were run during heavy downpours. Because rain flattens the river's surface, times are often faster. Other Winners: W.T. Woodson won the boys' varsity four in 5:22.4; Fairfax placed second in 5:34.9. In the girls' varsity four, Gloucester edged Madison, 5:59.3 to 6:05.8. Smokey Jacobs Regatta Let It Rain: Many of the races were run during heavy downpours. Because rain flattens the river's surface, times are often faster. Other Winners: W.T. Woodson won the boys' varsity four in 5:22.4; Fairfax placed second in 5:34.9. In the girls' varsity four, Gloucester edged Madison, 5:59.3 to 6:05.8.