March 31, 2007

PRINCETON, N.J. -- The Navy lightweight crew team reclaimed the Eads Johnson Trophy by virtue of its two-second victory over Yale in the varsity race between the two programs, Saturday on Lake Carnegie in Princeton, N.J.

"It was a much better race today for our varsity boat than what they had last week (in a season-opening loss to Princeton)," said Navy head coach Rob Friedrich. "We took an early lead today and maintained it over the remainder of the course."

Navy completed the 2000-meter course in a time of 5:54.2 to finish two seconds in front of Yale (5:56.2).

The win gives Navy possession of the Eads Johnson Trophy after a one-year absence. The Mids have now won the trophy in three of the four years it has been awarded to the winning varsity crew in the Navy-Yale lightweight race.

The second varsity race saw the winning and losing boats record times nearly identical to those posted in the varsity race, but this time it was the Bulldogs finishing in front of the Mids. Yale won the race with a time of 5:54.5, while Navy came in second with a time of 5:56.2.

"It was a disappointing race for our junior varsity boat, especially after the great race they rowed last week against Princeton," said Friedrich. "We were up early, but Yale rowed right through us."

While the first and second varsity races were close, the race of the day was the first freshman contest as Navy held off Yale by six-tenths of a second, 6:00.5-6:01.1.

"We held a seven-seat lead midway through the course, but Yale has a very good boat and we ended up winning by a distance of maybe three feet," said Friedrich.

The two teams split the remaining races on the day, with the Mids winning the third varsity race by nearly six seconds and Yale winning the second freshman race by over three seconds.

Navy will return to New Jersey for its next race, an April 8 contest against Rutgers and Columbia on the Raritan River in New Brunswick.

First Varsity (Eads Johnson Trophy Race)
Navy, 5:54.2; Yale, 5:56.2
Second Varsity
Yale, 5:54.5; Navy, 5:56.2
Third Varsity
Navy, 6:05.6; Yale, 6:11.3
First Freshman
Navy. 6:00.5; Yale, 6:01.1
Second Freshman
Yale, 6:10.6; Navy, 6:13.8