Crew Teams Enjoy Successful Spring Break

Spring break was a breeze for the Radcliffe heavyweight and lightweight crew teams. Both squad enjoyed undefeated spring breaks, as the heavyweights surged to 2-0 on the season while the lightweights improved their record to 4-0 and captured the second Class of 2004 cup.

LIGHTWEIGHTS

The lightweights finished their spring break in grand style, racing to an open water win over Georgetown on Saturday in Cambridge to win the Cup.

The Black and White took three of the four races, winning the varsity eight by an 11-second margin. While Georgetown won the varsity four, the day clearly belonged to Radcliffe, as all three of its victories were by open water.

The win came on the heels of several other important spring break wins for the Black and White.

Radcliffe earned three wins at the Windermere Rowing Classic in Northern California, a tournament held the weekend of Mar. 26.

The Black and White topped Princeton, Stanford, and Loyola to round out its undefeated run and earn its first three victories on the season.

While Radcliffe was forced to come from behind in order to beat Princeton, it had a much easier time in the other two contests. The Black and White never trailed against Stanford and recorded open-water victories against both Stanford and Loyola.

HEAVYWEIGHTS

The Radcliffe heavyweights enjoyed a similarly successful break, improving their record to 2-0 with a victory over Brown in Providence on Saturday.

The win came by a four-second margin after a close contest. The Black and White led by just one seat with 700 meters to go, but was able to expand its lead in the race’s final stretch.

The Bears had been ranked fourth in the latest rowing polls, with Radcliffe ranked just 17th.

The Black and White also tasted victory in its first action of the season, capturing the Rowlands Cup in Cambridge on March 24.

Radcliffe defeated both Northeastern and Boston College to claim the Cup, the eighth consecutive time that the Black and White has won the prize.

Radcliffe won four of the six races run on the afternoon, taking the second varsity boat and both novice eights.

The varsity eight completed the 2,000-meter course in 6:36.5, good enough for an open-water victory over its two challengers.

The heavyweights will next travel to Princeton to compete for the Class of ‘74 Cup on Saturday, while the lightweights will compete in the Knecht Cup in New Jersey next weekend.

-THE CRIMSON STAFF