The Hobart and William Smith rowing teams will host the Challenge on the Canal on Saturday, Oct. 26. The 4.4-kilometer head race will begin on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal at 10 a.m.
 
The Statesmen and Herons will host Mercyhurst and Rochester Institute of Technology for the second straight year. Racing will begin with small boats and the first-year/novice eight. Round two will begin at noon and will feature the varsity eights.
 
Last year, William Smith won two gold medals. The Herons finished first in the varsity four, posting a five-second victory over the Tigers. William Smith dominated the novice eight, finishing 17 seconds ahead of RIT. In addition, the Herons had a second and third place finish in the pairs.
 
Returning to the Challenge on the Canal for the first time since 2013, Hobart won all four events it entered in last year's regatta. The Statesmen turned in the seven fastest times in the pairs race. Hobart's varsity four defeated Mercyhurst by 81-hundredths of a second. In the varsity eight, the Statesmen had three of the four fastest times.