ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In a showdown with three of the nation's top-11 teams racing on the Severn River on Saturday morning, No. 3 Harvard took home victories in the top three varsity eight races before No. 9 Penn and No. 11 Navy each collected one win a piece. The Crimson's success at the top of Saturday's racing slate resulted in them celebrating with the Adams Cup and Clothier Team Points Trophy at the end of the competition. The Mids' depth was showcased in their victory in the fifth varsity eight to close out the meet.
Racing in an orderly fashion, the first varsity eight crews were first on the water on Saturday morning with the Adams Cup on the line for the victor. A tough start by Navy left the Mids behind early as Harvard and Penn jockeyed for position over the first 750 meters. The Crimson took over first place before the 1,000-meter mark and never looked back as all three teams battled extremely choppy water conditions down the seawall. At the conclusion of the 2,000-meter piece, Harvard won with a time of 6:19.9, 1.6 seconds ahead of Penn. Navy clocked in third at 6:38.1.
In the second varsity eight, the teams broke out at the 500-meter sector with Harvard up half a boat over Penn, who was half a boat up on Navy. The next 500 meters saw all three crews extend their respective leads to a full boat length by the midway juncture. At the finish line, the teams were all separated by at least seven seconds as Harvard won at 6:25.9 over Penn and Navy, who posted times of 6:32.9 and 6:41.4, respectively.
The third varsity eight saw a similar alignment as Harvard broke out to a significant open water lead early and won with a time of 6:31.2. Navy kept within striking distance of Penn through the 1,000-meter mark before the Quakers sprinted away from the Mids, who were bouncing in the rough sea conditions down the stretch, 6:38.4 to 6:48.4.
Penn collected its first victory of the meet in the fourth varsity eight race as the Quakers held off the Crimson by 4.4 seconds, 6:44.5 to 6:48.9. Navy's 4V clocked in at 7:03.7.
In the final race of the meet, the Mids' depth got a chance to shine as three Navy crews were entered in the fifth varsity eight contest. Penn led early after the initial sprint, but it wouldn't last long as Navy's 5V and 6V crews pushed past into a two-way fight by the 1,000-meter mark. That one-two arrangement lasted over the second half of the race as the Mids' 5V won with a time of 6:52.7 versus a 6:57.4 mark for its brethren in the 6V. Penn's 5V came in fifth at 7:03.3, while Navy's 7V posted a 7:17.0 result for fourth place.
"Today's results are not a true indication of our boat speed," remarked
Rob Friedrich, the Tom & Candy Knudson Director of Navy Rowing. "We will regroup and come back faster moving forward. Full speed ahead."
Navy will conclude its regular season next Sunday versus Columbia in West Windsor, N.J. with the Stevenson Cup on the line.
Race Results
First Varsity Eight
Harvard – 6:19.9
Penn – 6:21.5
Navy – 6:38.1
Second Varsity Eight
Harvard – 6:25.9
Penn – 6:32.9
Navy – 6:41.4
Third Varsity Eight
Harvard – 6:31.2
Penn – 6:38.4
Navy – 6:48.4
Fourth Varsity Eight
Penn – 6:44.5
Harvard – 6:48.9
Navy – 7:03.7
Fifth Varsity Eight
Navy 5V – 6:52.7
Navy 6V – 6:57.4
Penn 5V – 7:03.3
Navy 7V – 7:17.0
Boat Lineups
