NEW YORK -- Both the Columbia University heavyweight and lightweight crews will head to Massachusetts this weekend for the Eastern Sprints on Sunday, May 10. The two sides will row on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass., with the first race of the day set for a 7:30 a.m. start time.

The heavyweights enter the race seeded ninth in the EARC and 11th in the nation. Columbia's varsity eight boat will participate in the second of three heats in the morning at 11:24 a.m. The Lions have won six of the seven Cup events they have competed in this season, including winning the Childs Cup for the first time in 46 years on April 11. Columbia also came away with victories at the Governor's Cup, Collins Cup, Alumni Cup, Blackwell Cup and the Doc Lusins Trophy race. The second varsity eight boat is seeded 11th in the EARC, and the freshman boat 16th. 

The lightweight crew finished the season with a flourish, winning their first Cup since 2006 with a triumph over Dartmouth at the Subin Cup Regatta. The varsity eight boat is seeded eighth in the EARC, the second varsity eight is seventh and the freshman eight rank in sixth. The varsity eight boat for the lightweights will go off at 11:48 a.m. in the first of two heats.

The petite and grand finals will begin at 1:10 p.m., with the last grand final (the varsity lightweight race) at 5:36 p.m.

2008 Eastern Sprints
Men's Heavyweight and Lightweight Rowing
The EARC Sprints

Columbia race times
9:24 a.m. - Freshman lightweight eight, heat two
10:00 a.m. - Freshman heavyweight eight, heat three
10:24 a.m. - Second lightweight varsity eight, heat two
10:48 a.m. - Second heavyweight varsity eight, heat two
11:24 a.m. - Heavyweight varsity eight, heat two
11:48 a.m. - Lightweight varsity eight, heat one
1:10 p.m. - Finals begin

Driving Directions
• Major Deegan Expressway (I-87) to Cross-Westchester Expressway (I-287)
• I-287 to I-684 North to Brewster
• At Brewster, take I-84 East through Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, etc.
• I-84 ends at the Mass Pike (I-90). Take Mass Pike East (towards Boston) for about 10 miles to I-290 (Worcester)
• Take I-290 East past Holy Cross and through downtown Worcester.
• Get off at Exit 21, Plantation Street. Turn right at the end of the ramp. Turn left immediately after the Mercandante Funeral Home on the left, and proceed to Lake Avenue.
• Turn right on Lake Avenue (parallels the lake). Entrance to the lake (Regatta Point State Park) will be on your left. On your right is the UMass Medical Center. Make a right into the hospital parking lots to park.
• There are fees for parking and entrance.