Virginia Sets Princeton Chase Course Record
The Cavaliers' lead women's eight posted a 13:31.211 time, breaking the program's previous course record.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Running
Virginia's lead women's eight covered the three-mile course in 13:31.211 at the Princeton Chase in Princeton, N.J., breaking the program's previous record of 13:41.434 set in 2012. The Cavaliers also claimed three of the first five places in the Open 4+ event.
Why it matters
The record marks a clear performance benchmark for the program's rowing crews at a national-level regatta. Results from early-season head-to-head races like the Princeton Chase give crews a measure of their standing before the national championship season.
Virginia's lead eight finished 5 seconds ahead of Princeton's 13:36.879, and Rutgers finished nearly 28 seconds behind the winners. Virginia's Second Varsity Eight placed fourth overall in the Open 8+ category at 14:07.216, and the Varsity Four won the Open 4+ field at 15:31.941.
The players
University of Virginia Rowing
The Virginia women's rowing program is a varsity team that competes in national collegiate regattas and has a history of top finishes at the NCAA Championships.
The details
The Cavaliers raced at the Princeton Chase in Princeton, N.J., where Virginia's crews took three of the first five places in the Open 4+ event. Virginia's B Four placed third at 15:50.359 and its C Four fifth at 16:08.373.
Timeline
October 18: Virginia's Varsity Eight finished third in the Women's Championship 8+ event at the Head of the Charles.
2012: Virginia set the previous course record of 13:41.434.
November 2026: Virginia set the new course record at the Princeton Chase.
Season Trajectory
Virginia's course record follows a fourth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Championship, indicating sustained competitive strength for the program. Early-season time trials like the Princeton Chase offer a benchmark for how the crews may rank as the national championship season approaches.
The course record gives Virginia's women's rowing program a new benchmark time for the three-mile Princeton Chase. Crews aiming for similar results can use the 13:31.211 mark as a target for future early-season races.
The takeaway
Virginia's record shows how early-season race results can set a clear performance target for the season ahead. Rowers and coaches can use course records like this one to measure progress against prior program benchmarks.
Further reading
For more on competitive race performances, see Running.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crossword -- January 29 - The Cavalier Daily - University of Virginia's Student Newspaper.
