March 29, 2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy overcame a late deficit to edge Princeton by three-tenths of a second in the varsity race between the two lightweight rowing programs Saturday morning on the Severn River in Annapolis to become the inaugural winner of the Joseph Murtaugh Cup.
The Mids took an early lead over the Tigers, who had recorded a 2.2-second triumph in last year's race between the two boats, but Princeton soon rowed through the Navy entry and took an advantage of nearly one-half of a boat length. The Mids started to creep back towards the Tigers over the last 500 meters of the 2,000-meter race and had just enough to take back the lead and hold it at the finish line.
Navy posted a winning time of 5:52.0, with Princeton finishing in a time of 5:52.3.
"It was a tight, hard-fought race between two very good crews," said Navy head coach Rob Friedrich. "Both boats performed very well in extremely rough conditions."
"All of the races today featured great racing," said Joseph Murtaugh, the former Princeton and U.S. Rowing coach who presented the trophy named after him to the Mids at the end of the day. "They did me proud with their efforts."
"We are very honored to have won the first Joseph Murtaugh Cup," said Friedrich. "He has done so much for lightweight rowing over his career. We are excited to have this Cup be part of the Navy - Princeton series."
The varsity race was the first of Navy's four victories on the day. The Mids also claimed wins in the second varsity race by 1.8 seconds, in the freshman race by 2.2 seconds and in the third varsity race by 3.6 seconds.
Navy will attempt to retain a pair of trophies next week when the Mids race against Yale on Saturday and at Penn on Sunday. The winner of Saturday's varsity race will receive the Eads Johnson Trophy, with the Callow Cup at stake Sunday.
Navy vs. Princeton
Annapolis, Md. (Severn River)
1V (Joseph Murtaugh Cup race) - Navy, 5:52.0; Princeton, 5:52.3
2V - Navy, 6:03.1; Princeton, 6:04.9
1F - Navy, 6:13.11; Princeton, 6:15.34
3V - Navy, 6:19.3; Princeton, 6:22.9
