Harvard Women’s Heavyweight Rowing will begin its 2026 spring campaign in Columbus, Ohio, at the Ohio State Regatta, according to an April 2 announcement. The team, ranked No.13 nationally, is set to compete against No.20 Ohio State on Friday, April 3 and Indiana on Saturday, April 4.
The start of the season marks the program’s 55th year under the guidance of head coach Claire Ochal, who is entering her third spring leading the team. Captains Jenna Kempster-Taylor and Lindsey Brail will lead Harvard-Radcliffe this year alongside Commodores Alexia Fayd’herbe de Maudave and Orla Harvey.
The Black and White are scheduled for a series of races over two days in Columbus. On Friday afternoon they will race in five events against Ohio State University: first varsity eight (1V8), second varsity eight (2V8), first varsity four (1V4), second varsity four (2V4) with both teams fielding additional boats in some races, and third varsity eight (3V8). On Saturday morning they face Indiana across five more events with similar boat classes.
In addition to their away competition, Harvard-Radcliffe’s third varsity four-plus crew will race at home on Saturday against MIT and Boston University’s lightweights. The schedule for that event includes a single race at 9:20am.
Historically, Harvard-Radcliffe has met Indiana only once before—winning that contest in 2019—and trails Ohio State in their all-time series but secured victory during their most recent meeting last year. The team aims to build upon fall performances where it finished seventh and thirteenth in the Women’s Championship Eight at the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Looking ahead after this weekend’s regattas, Harvard-Radcliffe plans to travel to Princeton, New Jersey for the Ivy Invitational on Saturday, April 11.
