April 26, 2014

PHILADELPHIA - The Navy heavyweight rowing team earned a pair of victories on Saturday at the annual Adams Cup meeting between Harvard and Penn. Racing on the Schuylkill River, the ninth-ranked Mids won a pair of races, though the third-ranked Crimson crew from Harvard held off Navy in the varsity eight race for the Adams Cup.

"Our varsity had a solid race today," said Navy head coach Rob Friedrich. "They got down by a length to Harvard early but were able to move back into them in the last 750m, losing by half a length."

"All of our boats raced well and are gaining speed, though we still have a lot of room to improve. The guys are very focused on the next few weeks of training."

In the morning's first race, the second freshmen competition, Navy posted a 2.9-second margin of victory over Penn, 6:03.0 to 6:05.9. Harvard finished third with a time of 6:13.7.

The Mids made it two-for-two on the day as they won the next race, the 3V8. Navy's third varsity crew completed the 2000-meter course with a time of 5:45.8, 3.5 seconds ahead of its fourth varsity crew (5:49.3). Harvard and Penn rounded out the field with times of 5:51.7 and 6:09.6, respectively.

The Crimson and Midshipmen went one-two in the final three races as Harvard won the freshmen eight competition, 5:35.5 to 5:51.3 and second varsity eight by a closer, 5:44.8 to 5:46.6 margin.

In the final race for the Adams Cup, the trio of V8 boats battled throughout. After falling behind early to Harvard, Navy fought back late to fall by only 1.6 seconds, 5:34.6 to 5:36.2. Penn finished third with a time of 5:48.6.

The Mids will close out their regular season head-to-head slate of racing with a meet versus Columbia next Saturday, May 4. The two programs will race in Princeton, N.J. and compete for the Stevenson Trophy.

Results

Varsity 8

1. Harvard - 5:34.6
2. Navy - 5:36.2
3. Penn - 5:48.6

2^nd Varsity 8

1. Harvard - 5:44.8
2. Navy - 5:46.6
3. Penn - 5:52.0

3^rd Varsity 8

1. Navy - 5:45.8
2. Navy 4V - 5:49.3
3. Harvard - 5:51.7
4. Penn - 6:09.6

Freshmen 8

1. Harvard - 5:35.5
2. Navy - 5:51.3
3. Penn - 6:00.8

2^nd Freshmen 8

1. Navy - 6:03.0
2. Penn - 6:05.9
3. Harvard - 6:13.7