Illinois Sweeps Women, but Drops 3 Men's Races to Vanderbilt in Season Openner

The Fighting Illini started their Spring Race Season against Vanderbilt this past weekend in Nashville, TN. The Novice Men's 8+ swapped the lead back-and-forth down the course before Vanderbilt pulled away in the last 500m to win by 3/4 of a boat length. The Novice Women's 4+ from Illinois topped Vanderbilt's 1V, 2V, and Novice to claim victory in the Women's 4+. In the Men's Novice 4+, Vanderbilt cruised to victory by open water. The last race of the day pitted Illinois' Novice Men's 4+ against Vanderbilt's 1V and 2V. The Vandy 1V cruised to victory, while the Vandy 2V had to hold off Illinois all the way down the course. Vanderbilt ended up finishing one-two over Illinois, who finished one boat open water behind the 2V.