Creighton University Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Boston, Mass.
12:00 PM
Creighton University
vs
Head of the Charles
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Rowing to Compete in Head of the Charles
10/13/2026 11:00:00 AM | Rowing
Cambridge, Mass. -- Creighton Rowing will compete in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta this weekend from October 17-18. Off to a great start with their season, the Bluejays defeated Kansas State in the first race of the fall and competed at the Head of Mississippi a week later. The Bluejays first race is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 at 12:04 pm (CT).
Bluejay History at Head of the Charles
Creighton first competed at the Head of the Charles in the Fall of 2022, returning again in 2024, 2025 and once more this season. The first time the Bluejays competed Creighton entered its varsity 8+ boat. In 2024 and 2025 it was the varsity 4+ boat. The first Bluejay boat finished with a time 17:21.424. The highlight of Creighton's first three trips to Cambridge was in 2024 as the Bluejay vessel reached the championship competition, posting a time of 15:42.59. Last season Creighton's boat placed 12th with a time of 15:32.09.
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 for the world's largest three-day rowing event. Founders and Cambridge Boat Club members D'Arcy MacMahon, Howard McIntyre, and Jack Vincent, created the Regatta on the advice of Harvard University sculling instructor Ernest Arlett. Arlett proposed a "head of the river" race (similar in tradition to races held in his native England) be held on the Charles River. "Head" races are a class of regattas generally three miles in length. Boats compete against one another and the clock, which starts sequentially, approximately fifteen seconds apart. Winners of each race receive the honorary title "Head of the River" or, in this case, "Head Of The Charles."
Participating Boat for 2026
This season the Bluejays will once again send a varsity 4+ boat. The rowers earning a place in the boar are Coxswain: Mariana Vasquez, Stroke:Chloe Carlson, 3:Claire Robertson, 2:Delaney Moyer, Bow:Laurel Keiffer. Creighton's reserve rower on the trip is Ellie Kearin.
Illeg to Represent Creighton's Stronger Together
In addition to Creighton's boat another member of the Bluejay Rowing family will be participating in Cambridge. Mary Illig from the Stronger Together program, hosted annually by Creighton Rowing for cancer survivors, will be racing with her team 'Oars of Courage'. Illig began rowing with Stronger Together in 2018. Since then Illeg has truly found her place on the water, stating, "Rowing is my JAM! This program and especially its people — the coaches, students, survivors — they make my soul sing!"
Live Stream
The Head of the Charles offers a FREE live stream at https://hocr.org/the-regatta/livestreams/
Bluejay History at Head of the Charles
Creighton first competed at the Head of the Charles in the Fall of 2022, returning again in 2024, 2025 and once more this season. The first time the Bluejays competed Creighton entered its varsity 8+ boat. In 2024 and 2025 it was the varsity 4+ boat. The first Bluejay boat finished with a time 17:21.424. The highlight of Creighton's first three trips to Cambridge was in 2024 as the Bluejay vessel reached the championship competition, posting a time of 15:42.59. Last season Creighton's boat placed 12th with a time of 15:32.09.
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 for the world's largest three-day rowing event. Founders and Cambridge Boat Club members D'Arcy MacMahon, Howard McIntyre, and Jack Vincent, created the Regatta on the advice of Harvard University sculling instructor Ernest Arlett. Arlett proposed a "head of the river" race (similar in tradition to races held in his native England) be held on the Charles River. "Head" races are a class of regattas generally three miles in length. Boats compete against one another and the clock, which starts sequentially, approximately fifteen seconds apart. Winners of each race receive the honorary title "Head of the River" or, in this case, "Head Of The Charles."
Since 1965, the Head Of The Charles Regatta has grown tremendously. Today, more than 12,000 athletes from around the world compete in 74 different race events. In 1997, the Regatta grew to a two-day event and now attracts thousands of spectators during race weekend in October. Support from numerous boat clubs, colleges and universities, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), as well as 2,400 hardworking volunteers help make the HOCR a continued success year after year.
Participating Boat for 2026
This season the Bluejays will once again send a varsity 4+ boat. The rowers earning a place in the boar are Coxswain: Mariana Vasquez, Stroke:Chloe Carlson, 3:Claire Robertson, 2:Delaney Moyer, Bow:Laurel Keiffer. Creighton's reserve rower on the trip is Ellie Kearin.
Illeg to Represent Creighton's Stronger Together
In addition to Creighton's boat another member of the Bluejay Rowing family will be participating in Cambridge. Mary Illig from the Stronger Together program, hosted annually by Creighton Rowing for cancer survivors, will be racing with her team 'Oars of Courage'. Illig began rowing with Stronger Together in 2018. Since then Illeg has truly found her place on the water, stating, "Rowing is my JAM! This program and especially its people — the coaches, students, survivors — they make my soul sing!"
Live Stream
The Head of the Charles offers a FREE live stream at https://hocr.org/the-regatta/livestreams/
Players Mentioned
Monday, October 17
Wednesday, June 22
Saturday, June 04
Friday, May 06
