PHILADELPHIA – In its final races before EARC Sprints, the University of Pennsylvania men's heavyweight crew fell in its Madeira Cup races with Cornell on Saturday morning but came back to sweep Holy Cross across afternoon racing. In particular, Penn's Second Varsity Eight enjoyed a pair of wins on Saturday to lead the way.
 
Cornell Final Results (row2k.com) | Holy Cross Final Results (row2k.com)
 
Varsity Eights
In its morning race, Penn's 12th-ranked boat was nipped at the finish line by Cornell's 14th-ranked boat by just less than two seconds. The Big Red clocked 5:22.2 across the Schuylkill's 2,000-meter course while the Quakers were clocked in 5:24.1.
 
In the afternoon, Penn clocked 5:31.3 which was nearly 15 seconds ahead of Holy Cross' 18th-ranked boat (5:45.8).
 
Second Varsity Eights
This was Penn's only win across the morning's races, the 11th-ranked Quakers clocking 5:29.8 which was a little more than six seconds ahead of Cornell's 15th-ranked boat (5:36.0).
 
In the afternoon racing, Penn's 5:38.1 finish was nearly 12 seconds ahead of HC's 20th-ranked boat (5:49.9).
 
Third Varsity Eights
Cornell's win in this race was sizable, the Big Red's 12th-ranked boat (5:33.2) finishing a good 12 seconds ahead of Penn's tenth-ranked boat (5:45.0).
 
Penn's afternoon race was a win, the Quakers clocking 5:42.2 which was more than eight seconds ahead of the Crusaders' 17th-ranked boat (5:50.7).
 
Fourth Varsity Eights
Cornell also had a 15-second victory over Penn in this race, the Big Red clocking 5:40.2 while the Quakers were timed in 5:55.0. Cornell also had a 5V8 in this race and that boat clocked 5:46.8.
 
In the afternoon, Penn clocked 5:53.1 in its race with Holy Cross which was more than 11 seconds than the Crusaders (6:04.3).
 
Up Next
The Sprints will take place Sunday, May 14 on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.