CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – At the 52nd Head of the Charles Regatta, the University of Washington Men's Varsity Eight took first place in the Men's Championship Eight event. 
 
Washington finished first out of 26 crews, with a time of 14:40.823, nearly 12 seconds ahead of second place, California, with Harvard and Yale coming in third and fourth place, respectively.  The UW Varsity Eight featured 5 members of the IRA Varsity Eight from the 2015-2016 season.  Two members of this year's lineup, Stuart Sim and Benjamin Davison, are back after taking a year off to pursue their Olympic dreams in Rio.
 
The Eight shot out quickly, powering through the quarter way marker with the fastest time, quickly overtaking Leander Boat Club, a visiting crew chock full of Olympic Champions from the 2016 games.  After a sustained, all-out pursuit, the Huskies charged past the celebrated "Great Eight" (comprised of world-class single scullers) just before Elliot Bridge.  With clear water ahead, Washington hit the accelerator and sprinted to the finish. 
 
This win marks the first race of the 2016-17 campaign for the Huskies, and UW's first win of the Championship Men's Eight, since 2012.
 
"This fall we're committed to getting the team culture right," said Head Coach Michael Callahan.  "We're focused on our values.  This result affirms that when you get the culture right, good things can happen."
 
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Washington's next and final fall race will be at the Head of the Lake Regatta on the Montlake Cut, in Seattle on November 6th.
 
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