DERBY, Conn. – The University of Pennsylvania men's heavyweight crew retained the Blackwell Cup and added the Colgan Cup, bringing both pieces of hardware back to Boathouse Row following Saturday's racing on the Housatonic River.
 
In a photo finish that needed several minutes of deliberation, Penn was awarded the Blackwell Cup over Yale (with Columbia a distant third). It marked the second year in a row the Quakers won the Blackwell Cup, the first time that has happened since they won it four straight times from 1999 to 2002.
 
Penn also won the Colgan Cup for the first time in that trophy's five-year history, wresting it from Yale which had held it ever since it was put into competition in 2022.
 
Final Results (row2k.com) | Penn Boatings (PDF)
 
VARSITY EIGHT (Blackwell Cup)
All three boats were tight at the midway point of the race, at which point the Bulldogs and Quakers were able to push ahead of the Lions. However, all three were still in touch at the finish line as Penn nipped Yale for the win.
  #11 Penn 5:48.8
  #6 Yale 5:49.2
  #18 Columbia 5:52.6
 
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (Colgan Cup)
The Quakers were able to sweep the hardware, taking a bit of a lead midway through the race and then holding off a hard-charging Bulldogs crew down the stretch for the win.
  Penn 5:59.8
  Yale 6:01.5
  Columbia 6:09.4
 
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT
The Bulldogs were able to get the win in what was the final race of the morning. 
  Yale 5:54.8
  Penn 5:56.8
  Columbia 6:10.8
 
FOURTH VARSITY EIGHT
The Quakers' 4V8 jumped out quickly in this race and were never seriously threatened, continuing to open their lead as the race went on. By the time the teams reached the finish line Penn had open water on the Bulldogs and the Lions.
  Penn 5:52.4
  Yale 6:10.2
  Columbia 6:12.2
  Penn (5V8) 6:19.3
 
Up Next
Penn will race on the Schuylkill River next Saturday, hosting Harvard and Navy. The Adams Cup will be on the line in the Varsity Eights race.
 
For the latest on Penn men's heavyweight rowing, follow @PennHwtRowing on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.