Navy Heavyweight Crew -- Day one at IRA Regatta complete
For Immediate Release
Sent Thursday, May 31, 2007
Contact Justin Kischefsky (410) 293-8772
Navy's Varsity Boat in Pair of Close Races on Day One of IRA Regatta
CAMDEN, N.J. -- Navy's heavyweight varsity boat was narrowly edged in a pair of close races Friday on the opening day of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship, being held this week on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.
The varsity crew began the day by recording a time of 5:40.837 to place third in its trial heat Thursday morning, with the Navy entry finishing three seconds in back of defending-champion California and less than one second behind sixth-seeded Princeton.
Navy had a good start to its race and held a slim lead over the field during the second 500 meters of the course, but Cal would take the lead around the midpoint in the race. Navy held onto second place over Princeton until the last 20 strokes of the course when the Tigers rowed past the Mids. Cal posted a winning time of 5:37.833, Princeton placed second with a clocking of 5:38.988 and Navy finished third with a time of 5:40.837.
"We lost to Princeton by 13.5 seconds at the start of the season, so to have a lead over them until the very end of the race shows the great improvement we have had since early in the year," said Navy head coach Rick Clothier. "Our goal was to win the race, however, so we were disappointed by the result."
The Golden Bears and the Tigers advanced directly into Friday's championship semifinal races (where all 12 boats are guaranteed a spot in either the grand or petite final on Saturday), while the third-place finish sent the Mids into one of the repechage races Thursday afternoon.
The Mids held an early lead of about three seats over Northeastern during that repechage race, but the Huskies slowly started to cut into the Navy advantage and the two boats were even going into the final 500 meters of the course. As in the morning race, a stronger sprint by the Huskies gave them a victory over the Mids by 1.3 seconds, a time which translates to about a one-third of a boat length advantage at the finish line.
"We found ourselves in a fast heat and Northeastern had a little more left in their tanks at the end than we did," said Clothier. "Our guys rowed their hearts out in both races today, so I am proud of them for that."
Navy's second-place time of 5:43.412 would have been good enough to win any of the three additional repechage races on the day, which would have allowed Navy to compete in one of the championship semifinal races. With the second-place finish, however, the Mids find themselves in one of Friday's consolation semifinal races.
Navy's second varsity and freshman eight boats both had the same placings in their races as the varsity crew did Thursday and will also race in a consolation semifinal Friday.
The program's most successful crew on the day was its varsity four without coxswain boat, which won its trial heat by 2.2 seconds and earned a berth in Saturday's grand final.
Also placing well Thursday was Navy's freshman four boat, which finished in second place in both its trial heat and repechage race to advance to Friday's championship semifinal.
First Varsity Eight
Trial Heat -- 3rd of 6 -- (3) California, 5:37.833; (6) Princeton, 5:38.988; (11) Navy, 5:40.837; Oregon State, 5:48.380; Georgetown, 5:51.904; Virginia, 5:56.262
Repechage Race -- 2nd of 4 -- Northeastern, 5:42.197; (11) Navy, 5:43.412; Boston Univ., 5:51.462; Dartmouth, 6:11.842
Friday's Schedule -- Consolation Semifinal (12:36 p.m.)
Second Varsity Eight
Trial Heat -- 3rd of 6 -- (1) Wisconsin, 5:47.806; (9) Syracuse, 5:51.913; Navy, 5:55.190; Delaware, 5:58.965; Michigan, 6:00.038; (8) Georgetown, 6:01.524
Repechage Race -- 2nd of 4 -- Yale B, 5:50.279; Navy, 5:53.277; (12) Columbia, 6:14.606
Friday's Schedule -- Consolation Semifinal (1:24 p.m.)
Freshman Eight
Trial Heat -- 3rd of 6 -- (4) Washington, 5:48.506; (5) Princeton, 5:55.689; (12) Navy, 6:01.924; Syracuse, 6:08.077; Delaware, 6:12.323; Rutgers, 6:13.998
Repechage Race -- 2nd of 4 -- George Washington, 5:54.840; (12) Navy, 5:59.324; Dartmouth, 6:08.496; Michigan, 6:10.120
Friday's Schedule -- Consolation Semifinal (11:36 a.m.)
Varsity Four with Coxswain
Time Trial -- 25th of 31 -- 5:47.769
Friday's Schedule -- E Level Final (3:12 p.m.)
Varsity Four without Coxswain
Trial Heat -- 1st of 6 -- 6:15.890; Syracuse, 6:18.064; Wisconsin, 6:26.014; Harvard, 6:28.821; Georgetown, 6:46.387; Lehigh, 6:50.720
Friday's Schedule -- Bye
Saturday's Schedule -- Grand Final (11:14 a.m.)
Open Four with Coxswain
Trial Heat -- 5th of 6 -- Cornell, 6:38.566; Syracuse, 6:42.177; Wisconsin B, 6:43.330; Yale, 6:56.263; Navy, 7:04.264; Boston Univ., 7:15.844
Friday's Schedule -- Repechage Race (8:12 a.m.)
Freshman Four with Coxswain
Trial Heat -- 2nd of 5 -- Boston Univ., 6:37.655; Navy, 6:38.888; UCLA, 6:55.881; Dartmouth, 7:07.151; Fordham, 7:14.172
Repechage Race -- 2nd of 4 -- Princeton, 6:39.717; Navy, 6:42.363; Cornell, 6:42.498; Minnesota, 7:07.351
Friday's Schedule -- Championship Semifinal (9 a.m.)
Varsity Pair without Coxswain
Trial Heat -- 5th of 6 -- Wisconsin, 6:59.011; Cornell, 7:08.608; Long Beach State, 7:14.201; Rutgers, 7:18.055; Navy, 7:22.903; Georgetown, 7:28.621
Friday's Schedule -- Repechage Race (7:36 a.m.)