PRINCETON, N.J. – In a banner day for the program, the University of Pennsylvania men's lightweight crew swept the top three boats in racing with Princeton and Georgetown on Saturday morning on Lake Carnegie.
Penn brought the Wood-Hammond Trophy back to Boathouse Row as they continue to collect hardware this spring. The Quakers' fourth-ranked Varsity Eight nipped second-ranked Princeton to win the trophy for the second time in three years and the second consecutive time these boats raced on Lake Carnegie.
The last time Penn won the Varsity Eights race consecutively on Carnegie was 1976 and 1978, and prior to that it happened only two other times, in 1942 and 1946 (with a break for World War II in between) and then in 1950 and 1952.
The Third Varsity Eight also was victorious on Saturday and the Second Varsity Eight might have had the best dual of the day, the Quakers going stroke-for-stroke with the Tigers through the final 500 meters in a race that was originally called for Princeton but given to Penn after a video review.
Final Results (row2k.com) | Penn Boatings (PDF)
Varsity Eights (Wood-Hammond Trophy)
Penn held a slight edge at the 500 mark, maybe a seat or two, and extended it to about half a boat length by the midpoint. That lead was extended by another seat or so in the third 500, but Princeton made a mad dash in the final 500 and nearly caught the Quakers in what turned into an extremely close finish.
*#4 Penn 5:38.3
*#2 Princeton 5:38.6
*#6 Georgetown 5:50.3
Second Varsity Eights
Princeton was able to grab a lead early on and had about half a boat lead as the teams reached the midway mark. Penn made a move in the third 500 and that set up a fantastic final 500, the teams going stroke-for-stroke right to the finish line for a photo finish that went to the Quakers after a video review.
*Penn 5:51.00
*Princeton 5:51.01
*Georgetown 6:13.3
Third Varsity Eights
Penn got out to a quick start and had an open-water lead on Georgetown by the race's midpoint. The Quakers cruised from there, extending their lead throughout on the way to a nine-second victory.
*Penn 5:58.5
*Princeton 6:11.3
*Georgetown 6:07.5
Fourth Varsity Eights
The Quakers raced Princeton's heavyweight 5V8 and was beaten by seven seconds.
*Princeton (5V8 heavies) 6:21.2
*Penn 6:28.2
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