 In the last race of this format in 1967 on Onondaga Lake, in Syracuse, New York, 16 varsity crews waited for the gun to begin their three-mile race—winner take all.The format was changed in the Olympic year, 1968, to heats and finals over a 2,000-meter, six-lane course.This -rep-final, six-lane, 2,000 meter format continues today.