Illini Host First Home Race

This weekend, the Fighting Illini hosted their first race when they took on Northwestern and Wheaton's Men's Crews at Clinton Lake. The invitational scrimmage was the first meeting between Northwestern and Illinois this season. The day started well for the Illini in the Novice Men's 4+. Illinois opened a commanding lead on Wheaton and Northwestern who fought hard for second. Wheaton ultimately proved the faster crew claiming second, ahead of Northwestern in third. The Illini 2nd Novice 4+ finished well back of Northwestern.The Novice Women's 4+ scrimmaged against the 3rd Novice Men's 4+, winning the race comfortably demonstrating the superior speed that lead them to a big season opening win against Vanderbilt three weeks earlier.Wheaton and Northwestern dueled in the 2nd Varsity Men's 4+, with Wheaton again emerging the victor. In the 1st Varsity Men's 4+, Wheaton won by a comfortable margin over Northwestern, who finished well up on the 3rd place Illinois.The capstone race of the day was the Varsity Men's 8+ between Illinois and Northwestern. Illinois fielded two 8+'s for this event, but it was the 1st Varsity 8+ who battled Northwestern in a neck and neck battle down the course. In the final 250m, the Illini managed to pull away and open up a small lead and held it to claim first place on the day, less 2 seconds ahead of Northwestern in what was the closest race of the day. The 2nd Varsity Illinois boat suffered an equipment malfunction and finished well back of the lead boats.The Illini will take on Northwestern and other Midwest rivals next weekend at the Mid-American Collegiate Championships in Grand Rapids, MI next weekend.