Oct. 22, 2004

Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa women's rowing team will compete in the world's largest regatta this Saturday and Sunday at the 40th annual Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, Mass. The event annually draws 250,000 and 300,000 spectators and is considered the "Super Bowl of rowing".

Rowers of all ages from four continents, 26 countries and more than 400 universities participate in the two-day, 48-event regatta. The Golden Hurricane is competing in the two races, the Championship Fours and the Youth Fours.

"The Head of the Charles is the granddaddy of all races," Head Coach Kevin Harris said. "This event is every rowers dream to compete in. Rowers from around the world come to Boston to race in the Head of the Charles. I believe we are taking a very good and competitive roster to this year's event. We have good speed and we have learned a lot over the past couple of months. It also gives us a chance to race against teams from the East Coast."

Over the past two seasons, TU has turned in back-to-back ninth-place finishes in the Club Four and will look to break into the top-5 this year. The Golden Hurricane will be one of 42 teams competing in the Club Four on Saturday afternoon. Among the 41 other boats in this race is the U.S. Women's Olympic team that won a silver medal this summer in Athens, Greece.

On Sunday morning, Tulsa will race in the Youth Four for the first time in school history at the Head of the Charles, and will be one of 34 boats in the race. TU will start in 24th place because of its first time to race in the event.

"Our strategy is to race a clean race and avoid collisions. The Head of the Charles is a very challenging course and it's the hardest steering course we will compete in. We quizzed our coxswains, so I believe they will be ready for the course," Harris said.

Each race consists of a three-miles and is a time trial.