BOSTON, Mass. – The Navy lightweight rowing team was faced with the toughest task in its sport with a road matchup at the nation's top team, No. 1 Harvard, on Saturday. Racing the Crimson on their home Charles River course, the No. 7 Mids also faced stiff and consistent pressure from a game No. 8 MIT Engineers squad that was competing as a guest. At the culmination of Saturday's three-race slate, Navy came through with a victory in the third varsity eight contest and a runner-up result in the second varsity race.
The first of three races on Saturday was the first varsity eight contest. After a competitive start by all three teams, MIT broke out to an early lead, though Harvard quickly overtook the Engineers and had its eyes on securing a dominant open water lead before the mid-way point of the 2,000-meter piece. Navy and MIT battled it out over the second quarter of the race, but the Engineers packed a bit more of a stronger punch and cleared the Mids' bow ball near the half-way juncture. A gutsy Navy squad charged back at MIT and came back in contact over the next 500 meters, though the Engineers had the final answer and held on for a 3.4-second margin for second place, 6:17.7 to 6:21.1. Harvard retained the Haines Trophy over Navy with a victorious time of 6:10.0.
In the second varsity eight contest, Harvard burst off line and had open water over both Navy and MIT within the first 500 meters. The Mids and Engineers were locked in a tight stroke-for-stroke contest with Navy holding a slight three-seat edge over the next quarter of the race before garnering an open water advantage versus MIT after passing the 1,000-meter mark. Over the second half of the race, the Mids drew a bit closer to the Crimson, while extending their margin over the Engineers. At the finish line Harvard clocked in first at 6:16.8, while Navy crossed in second at 6:29.0. MIT was over eight seconds back in third place at 6:37.7.
The meet concluded with third varsity eight action as two Navy crews went up against Harvard. The Mids' 4V8 was strong off the line and had a three-seat lead by the quarter mark, though their initial burst was short lived. Navy's 3V8 stayed in the thick of it and was even with Harvard at that quarter pole before making a strong move during the middle 1,000 meters, shooting to the head of the field. Building on that aggressive exchange, the Mids had answers for the Crimson down the stretch and grabbed the program's first win of the day by 1.1 seconds, 6:37.4 to 6:38.5. Navy's 4V put forth a solid piece and claimed third at 6:44.2.
"We had a great week of preparation, but unfortunately, we were unable to execute today in Boston," remarked head coach
Shawn Bagnall. "The lack of execution is deadly when racing the top-ranked team in the country in Harvard and a strong MIT squad.
"Our third and fourth varsity once again had a great day. Their gritty performance in the worst water of the morning was great to see.
"The connection between preparation and execution is my responsibility and I know the team is immensely motivated to find their best strokes as a full team when it counts during the month of May. We will get right back to that rehearsal of racing execution this coming week in preparation for UPenn."
Navy will wrap up its regular season with one more Eastern Sprints League bout next Saturday at home versus Penn. The Mids and Quakers will take to Severn River with the Callow Cup on the line for the victor of the first varsity eight contest.
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Race Results
First Varsity Eight
Harvard – 6:10.0
MIT – 6:17.7
Navy – 6:21.1
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Second Varsity Eight
Harvard – 6:16.8
Navy – 6:29.0
MIT – 6:37.7
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Third Varsity Eight
Navy – 6:37.4
Harvard – 6:38.5
Navy 4V – 6:44.2
Boat Lineups
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