Big Green Lightweight Crew Wins Third Straight

Sunday, April 29

New Haven, Conn.

11:00 a.m. (New Day)

Dartmouth College

Yale/Rutgers (Durand Cup)

Big Green Lightweight Crew Wins Third Straight

4/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lightweight Rowing

By: Dartmouth

Derby, Conn. ? The Dartmouth men's lightweight crew had yet another successful weekend as the Varsity Eight took its third-straight victory. The Big Green downed No. 4 Yale and Rutgers to reclaim the Durand Cup for the first time since 1994.

The Varsity Eight took the Cup in an exciting contest. Yale took an early two-seat lead before Dartmouth built a three-seat advantage going into the 1000 meter turn. Both boats battled through the turn and Yale attacked coming out of it to gain a seat, but the Big Green won the stretch sprint to finish in 5:33.8 ahead of the Elis in 5:36.5. Rutgers was third in 5:48.5.

“The varsity boat raced very well and we ended the regular season on a good note,” said Head Coach Steve Perry. “Our goal is still to win the Eastern Sprints and IRA National Championship and we will continue to focus on that.”

Yale took an early lead in the Second Varsity Eight race and held out, leaving the battle for second between the Big Green and the Scarlet Knights. Dartmouth held a full length lead on Rutgers by the 1000 meter turn while Yale gained open water on the pack. The Bulldogs took first in 5:39.6, with Dartmouth behind in 5:48.1 and Rutgers third in 5:53.9.

The Bulldogs had two boats entered in the Third Varsity Four race, and both held and early lead on Dartmouth. Yale's A boat gained a length midway through the race to win in 6:24.0 but the Big Green surged ahead of Yale B to take second in 6:34.9 with the B boat third in 6:38.3.

The First Freshman Eight race started well for the Big Green, who held a length at the 1000 meter mark, but a steering violation slowed the crew and resulted in a disqualification despite finishing with the second best time (5:46.6). Yale won in 5:41.7 and Rutgers was second in 5:58.0.

The bad luck continued for the novice crews in the Second Freshman Eight, but this time the struggle was Yale's. The Bulldogs had a length lead at the 700 meter mark but a steering violation cost them the race despite finishing first in 5:56.8 with Dartmouth second in 6:02.0.

The Big Green returns to action in two weeks when it heads to Worcester, Mass. for the Eastern Sprints on Sunday, May 13.