SPHHS Community Members Compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta
The world's largest 3-day regatta drew over 12,000 athletes rowing in over 1900 boats
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Since its origin in 1965, the Head Of The Charles® Regatta has welcomed the world’s best crew teams to the banks of the Charles River in Boston, MA for the ultimate 3-day rowing competition. On October 18-20, 2024, the regatta drew over 12,000 athletes rowing in over 1900 boats while hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered to watch this 3-mile race. This year, Northampton Community Rowing had five different boats in the event with several SPHHS faculty and alumni entered in the competition.
Jane Kent, Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology, rowed in the women’s Senior Master’s 4+ event. Sally Linowski, Lecturer in Health Promotion and Policy, and Gloria DiFulvio, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, rowed in the women’s Grand Master’s 8+ event. Rowing in the Master’s 4+ event was Hannah Stenger Kernizen ('15MS, Nutrition). DiFulvio also rowed with Nutrition alumna Laura Hutchinson Christoph ('04, '08PhD) in the Directors Challenge Women’s Quad.
Other UMass employees and alumni rowed in the Northampton Community Rowing boats, including: Melissa Celli ('99, '01MS, Chemistry); Wendy Mardas ('07, Classics); and Jamie Taylor, Librarian. Stephen Rondthaler ('24PhD, Chemical Engineering) served as the coxswain in the Grand Master’s 8+. Northampton Community Rowing is coached by UMass alumna Linda Hannum ('82, Music Education).
In addition to faculty, staff, and alumni, UMass fielded two student teams in the Head of the Charles. The UMass Women’s Rowing team, which features kinesiology majors Sarah Baule, Arden Ross, Teagan Blue, and Ali Kolaga, finished 10th out of 42 teams. The UMass Men’s Rowing club, which includes kinesiology major Mark Justin Legarda, also participated in the event, placing 17th out of 42 in their field.