CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The No. 7 men's heavyweight team defeats No. 8 Northeastern in the 42nd Smith Cup on the Charles River Basin course. The Red and White claimed first-place finishes in all four events.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
Harvard opened racing this morning with the Third Varsity 8 race. At the start, Harvard started taking seats early. At the 750 meters in, coxswain
Benjamin Ray could look across and was even with Northeastern's bow ball.
The Crimson 3V8 only continued to widen their open water lead as the race went on. Coming into the last 500 meters of the race, the Crimson boat had a very impressive lead to where the broadcast drone feed could only see the Harvard boat with Northeastern out of the frame.
The Crimson 3V8 finished with a massive 23 second lead with a time of 5:43.4 against the Huskies 6:07.3.
The Varsity 8 race was up next with the Smith Cup on the line. Both boats came out strong out of the start but it was the Crimson who pulled ahead to gain the lead very early in the race. Passing the one minute in the race, first year stroke seat
Josh Brangan began began to pull even with the Huskies bow ball.
Both boats maintained their positions through the half-way point at the Massachusets Ave. bridge.
With Northeastern still keeping contact with our boat, there was still an opportunity for it to be anyone's race. Northeastern counter attacked with an early sprint which gained them a few seats. However, it was no match for the Crimson's length and power when they crossed the finish line first with a time of 5:30.7 and Huskies at 5:32.1.
The third event was the Second Varsity 8 where the Crimson competed in similar fashion to the prior two races where they got an early lead against the Huskies. Again, at the 750 meter mark into the race bow ball became even.
Despite a strong headwind pushing against the crew, the Crimson 2V8 was still able to keep long and row well. At the halfway mark, the Red and White put a boat length of open water between them and the Huskies crew.
The Crimson became three-for-three for first place victories as the 2V8 crossed the finish line with an eight second lead with a time of 5:36.9 with the Huskies in second with a time of 5:44.9.
The final event of the day and for the spring dual season was the Fourth Varsity 8 event. The Crimson raced three boats in this event with their Fourth Varsity 8, Fifth Varsity 8, and Sixth Varsity 8. Harvard came out on top again with both a first and second place finish in this event. The results are as followed:
- Harvard 4V - 5:45.9
- Harvard 5V - 5:49.2
- Northeastern 4V - 6:00.2
- Harvard 6V - 6:11.2
UP NEXT
The Red and White are now preparing for final exams and will return on May 14, for Eastern Sprints regatta held on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.
