‘Battle at the Burr III’: Georgetown Claims Victories, But Howard Has Created Defining Meet
The lots filled with spectators in Washington, D.C, crowds buzzing with excitement over the event they were to witness. The crowd could’ve easily been present for the school’s football team, or a basketball game, both common draws in college sports. But the stands were packed for an unlikely event: a college swim meet.
The Hoyas of Georgetown recently picked up two big wins over the Howard Bison in the schools’ third edition of “The Battle at the Burr,” with more than 1,000 spectators in attendance. The event has become among the biggest in college swimming, selling out in days and receiving national coverage. The two teams have created a community around the event, one which stands out in a sport which has traditionally struggled to draw crowds. The “Battle” stood out once again in its third year, continuing to push the sport toward new heights.
A Thrilling Start
For those involved in The Battle of the Burr, the initial highlight has always been the environment. The raucous crowd noise creates a level of intensity rarely seen at dual meets. Howard sophomore Ameer Bashir pointed to the “nerves and butterflies” which can come with the energy, but pointed to it as something that “led to some really good performances” for the Bison. This was evident early in the meet, as the Howard men’s medley relay out-touched Georgetown for both first and third, by less than half a second.
The Hoyas, on the other hand, saw this meet as a test of their racing capabilities.
“Being outnumbered in the stands, we looked for that to fuel us.” said coach Jack Leavitt, looking to generate “high energy and effort” with the crowd largely against them. The team fought to take tight first and third in the medley relay on the women’s side, once again decided by just fractions of a second. The excitement created a “unique environment” according to the coach, leading to great finishes early on both sides.
The Battle Begins
As the meet wore on, both teams were able to showcase their strengths. Georgetown’s depth on the women’s side led it surge to a commanding lead.
“We’ve never been deeper,” Leavitt said, citing the team’s toughness after it dealt with sickness leading up to the meet. One of the meet’s breakout stars was freshman Kaitlin Lee, who was able to place second in the 200 freestyle and first in the 500 free. “The atmosphere was really motivating to me and my teammates,” said Lee, using the “surreal” moment to aid her performance.
On the men’s side, the meet was much tighter throughout. Both sides traded blows, but Georgetown’s dominance in the distance events shifted momentum in its favor. Leavitt pointed to the team’s training as key, as its training “through the aerobic phase of the season” led to quality times in longer events.
The Hoyas scored key wins in the 200 IM, as well as the 500 freestyle and 1000 free to keep them in good position. Senior Jack Januario, who won the 500 freestyle, referred to the team’s distance group as “a community.” Howard hung tight, however, thanks to big wins by Taj Benton and Mason Green in the 200 free and 100 fly.
A Star-Studded Finish
Through three years of the “Battle at the Burr,” the event has been a draw for some of swimming’s biggest stars. This year was no different, as Olympians Cullen Jones and Maritza McLendon attended for the second consecutive year, joined this fall by Simone Manuel. Olympic champion and announcer Rowdy Gaines called the meet.
“It was a very cool aura,” said Januario. “I just tried to be confident and comfortable even with the excitement.”
This confidence aided the Hoyas throughout the meet’s final stretch, as the team garnered critical finishes to secure wins for both programs. Georgetown won the women’s 200 free relay and secured first and third in the 100 breast to cap a 133-90 victory. The Georgetown men exited with a 117-107 decision.
Although Howard was unable to come away with a win, the team was able to accomplish a significant goal: Creating an event that transcends the sport of college swimming. Bashir pointed to the impact of the event, and Howard’s status as the only Division I HBCU swimming and diving program.
“Coach (Nic Askew) and the staff have done a fantastic job of bringing the community in,” Bashir said.
Leavitt also recognized the importance of the meet, indicating that Askew has established a benchmark.
“Creating an exciting product based around college swimming is a very impressive feat,” Leavitt said.