OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - The Navy women's rowing program opened its 2024 spring campaign with two sessions of strong competition at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational on Saturday. The Mids began their day at 10:15 with contests against No. 16 Indiana, R/V Wisconsin and the University of San Diego before coming back later in the day at 5 p.m. for another series of races against ACC foes, Clemson and the host Louisville Cardinals. Navy had five crews entered in both sessions of racing on a 2,000-meter stretch of Melton Lake in Eastern Tennessee. At the completion of 10 contests on Saturday, the Mids' fleet came away with one victory, a win by their second varsity four crew in the afternoon and two runner-up results from each of their second varsity eight and first varsity four boats.
Navy's first varsity eight crew began its day with a competitive third-place result in the foursome of Indiana, Wisconsin and USD. While the Hoosiers took top-billing in the contest with a winning time of 6:20.564, the Mids challenged the Badgers for second place, though Wisconsin held on for the 6:25.966 to 6:28.504 margin. The Mids were nearly two seconds faster than the Toreros, who posted a 6:30.461 result. Coming back six hours later in a three-boat heat, Navy found itself in a spirited contest where first through third place were separated by just 4.64 seconds as Clemson earned the victory at 6:34.055 ahead of Louisville's 6:36.331 and Navy's 6:38.695.
Â
The Mids' second varsity eight crew turned in comparable pieces on Saturday that clocked in within 4.294 seconds of each other. Navy's faster time of 6:41.445 came in the morning session as the crew placed second behind Indiana (6:30.818), but ahead of Wisconsin and USD, who clocked at 6:43.275 and 6:51.450, respectively. In the afternoon, the Mids' 2V8 crew netted its second runner-up placement in as many races with a time of 6:45.739, that defeated the Cardinals by over 10 seconds (6:56.141), but came up short of the Tigers' victorious time of 6:40.411.
Navy's third NCAA boat, the first varsity four, matched the success of the second varsity eight with a pair of second-place results in their initial spring races. In the morning, the Mids cruised across the finish line in second place in a somewhat spaced out contest with a time of 7:24.836, that slotted in behind the Hoosiers (7:12.398), but over seven seconds faster than the Badgers' 7:31.986 and nine seconds ahead of the Toreros' 7:33.939. Navy picked up the pace in the second session and shaved 0.961 seconds off its time from the morning with a final result of 7:23.875. In a final that required a photo finish review to declare a winner, Louisville edged Navy by 0.174 seconds with a 7:23.701 time. Clemson was over five seconds behind the Mids at 7:29.039.
The Mids' lower boats' action was headlined by a victory from the second varsity four crew in the afternoon session. After posting a time of 7:30.589 that ranked third behind Indiana (7:24.116) and Wisconsin (7:25.863), though ahead of USD's 7:48.965, Navy came back and put together a sparking second piece with a winning performance of 7:23.398. The Mids out-paced both of the Tigers' B (7:27.356) and A (7:36.680) entries, as well as the Cardinals' 2V4 crew, who clocked in at 7:57.848.
The final crew racing on Saturday was Navy's third varsity eight. In their morning contest, the Mids fought down to the wire with the Badgers as the Big Ten opponent nudged across the finish line just 1.105 seconds faster to claim third place, 6:54.805 to 6:55.910 over the Mids. Notre Dame was the victor of the AM session of that 3V8 at 6:45.454. In the second race for Navy's 3V8 it was a head-to-head bout with Clemson. At the conclusion of the 2,000 meters, the Tigers took a 7:00.088 to 7:07.537 victory over the Mids.
Â
Navy will conclude its racing at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invite on Sunday with all five of its crews taking to Melton Lake one more time. The Mids' 3V8 will be first on the water beginning at 8:34 a.m.
Â
Results
First Varsity Eight
AM
Indiana – 6:20.564
Wisconsin – 6:25.966
Navy – 6:28.504
USD – 6:30.461
PM
Clemson – 6:34.055
Louisville – 6:36.331
Navy – 6:38.695
Second Varsity Eight
AM
Indiana – 6:30.818
Navy – 6:41.445
Wisconsin – 6:43.275
USD – 6:51.450
PM
Clemson – 6:40.411
Navy – 6:45.739
Louisville- 6:56.141
First Varsity Four
AM
Indiana – 7:12.398
Navy – 7:24.836
Wisconsin – 7:31.986
USD – 7:33.939
PM
Louisville – 7:23.701
Navy – 7:23.875
Clemson – 7:29.039
Third Varsity Eight
AM
Notre Dame – 6:45.454
Indiana – 6:49.785
Wisconsin – 6:54.805
Navy – 6:55.910
PM
Clemson – 7:00.088
Navy – 7:07.537
Second Varsity Four
AM
Indiana – 7:24.116
Wisconsin – 7:25.863
Navy – 7:30.589
USD – 7:48.965
PM
Navy – 7:23.398
Clemson B – 7:27.356
Clemson A – 7:36.680
Louisville – 7:57.848
Boat Lineups
Â
Â
