March 24, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Navy women's crew team saw its two varsity eight boats place second in their respective final at the Murphy Cup, held Saturday on a very fast-moving Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

Saturday marked the first day of racing on the season for the Navy program.

Both Navy crews won their respective heats, but each would find themselves edged by Bucknell boats in the final. The varsity boat placed second to the Bison by 1.7 seconds, while the second varsity boat finished 1.23 seconds in back of Bucknell.

"Both of the varsity eight races were very close from the start of the race until the finish line," said Navy head coach Mike Hughes. "The lead changed hands many times during the race. Bucknell was able to come up with a last push to hold us off in the end.

"It was disappointing to not win, but now we have a better idea of where we stand and what we need to work on. There is more speed to found in our boat and we feel we will find it."

Additionally at the regatta, Navy crews won the varsity four final and placed both first and third in the novice eight final.

With rain falling in Philadelphia, the water level and the speed of the current was changing throughout the day. Instead of a standard, fixed starting line, a floating start was used which, for some races, decreased the length of the course as the boats continually moved downstream until they were all lined up at the same point to begin the race.

Navy will continue its season March 31 when the Mids take part in the Playfair Cup on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.

First Varsity Eight
Heat -- 6:08.68 -- 1st of 5 boats
Final -- 6:01.09 -- 2nd of 6 boats
Second Varsity Eight
Heat -- 6:19.90 -- 1st of 5 boats
Final -- 6:01.86 -- 2nd of 5 boats
Varsity Four A
Heat -- 6:22.83 -- 3rd of 6 boats
Final -- DNC
Varsity Four B
Heat -- 6:41.40 -- 1st of 6 boats
Final -- 6:46.90 -- 1st of 4 boats
Novice Eight A
Heat -- 6:18.98 -- 1st of 5 boats
Final -- 6:19.39 -- 1st of 4 boats
Novice Eight B
Heat -- 5:45.63 -- 1st of 6 boats
Final -- 6:31.38 -- 3rd of 4 boats