By Jessica Geller, deputy sports editor

The Head of the Charles Regatta, the main rowing event of the year, attracted over 400,000 spectators along the banks and bridges of the Charles River over the weekend. In its 50th year, the race saw 776 clubs from all over the world, including Norway, Canada, Germany and Australia. The two-day race is the largest of its kind worldwide.

Northeastern students competed in five events, landing three top-10 finishes.

On Saturday, when the weather was sunny and the water relatively calm, Northeastern competed in the club eights events – eight rowers sitting in one boat.

The Northeastern men’s club eights’ boat was the best among Husky boats with a first place finish. In a field of 47 boats, NU clocked in at fourth place at the first time marker behind Brown University, Harvard University and Boston University. Freshman Brad Luckett, in seat eight, increased the stroke rate of the boat to catch the pack by the second time marker. NU kept the lead the remainder of the three-mile race, crossing the line in 14:35.76. Brown finished five seconds later for second place.

The winning NU boat included five of the roster’s ten freshmen – Luckett, Jacob Plihal, Andrew Maglio, Ryan Leddy and Alexander Gass. Trevor Appier, Kevin Meador and John Rectenwald represented the sophomoresand Matej Metkovic was the lone junior.

The women’s best finish also came in the club eights race, as they placed sixth out of 34 crews. Freshman Rachel Rosenthal set the stroke in seat eight. A time of 16:58.93 put the Huskies out of the top five by less than a second. First place went to Brown.

Sunday’s races included the men’s championship fours, four rowers in one race and men’s and women’s championship eights races. The men’s foursboat, led by junior Sean Crowley, placed eighth out of 15 with a time of 16:51.92. Camp Randall Rowing Club won the event.

The men finished 13th out of 36 in the championship eights, with a time of 14:51.69. Sophomore Eric Winkert set the stroke rate. Craftsbury Sculling Center finished first.

The Northeastern women entered two boats in the championship eights race. Junior Katie O’Connell set the stroke of one of the boats, finishing 12th out of 34 with a time of 17:08.53. The second crew, with junior Kathryn Averwater in the eight spot, finished last in a time of 19:33.78. The Cambridge Boat Club won the event.

Northeastern’s women’s rowing team’s next race is Nov. 1-2 in New Jersey at the Collegiate Small Boat Challenge. The men do not race again until the Foot of the Charles Regatta in Boston on Nov. 22.

On Saturday, Northeastern alumni also rowed down the Charles River, rekindling the college rivalries. The men’s alumni eights boat finished first out of 55 boats with a time of 14:53.35. Brown came in second. In the men’s alumni eights six-year history, Northeastern has won the event five times.

The men’s Senior Master eights race, consisting of competitors above the age of 50, crossed the finish line 28th out of 55 with a time of 17:18.71.

The women’s alumni eights race had two Northeastern boats represented in a field of 42. The faster of the two boats placed 11th with a time of 17:47.21, and the second Husky boat crossed the line in 18:31.90 for 24th place.

Photo courtesy Scott Schenck