Dartmouth Heavyweights Top Syracuse for Packard Cup

Sunday, May 23

Hanover, N.H.

9:00 am

Dartmouth College

SYRACUSE (Packard Cup)

Dartmouth Heavyweights Race Well at EARC Sprints

Dartmouth Heavyweights Top Syracuse for Packard Cup

5/24/2010 9:00:00 AM | Men's Heavyweight Rowing

By: Dartmouth

Hanover, N.H. - The seventh ranked Dartmouth heavyweight varsity eight won the Packard Cup for the first time in five years, defeating #10 Syracuse this past Sunday.

It was nearly perfect conditions for racing on the Connecticut River with a small tail current and headwind on a warm, sunny New Hampshire morning.

"Everyone raced hard today and they knew they would have to," said head coach Topher Bordeau. "Syracuse always produces aggressive races and today was no different. And, as always, they were class opponents. Their program is an easy one to respect and one look at the way they conduct themselves on and off the water makes it easy to see why."

The varsity race was the finale of the day, but was a thriller and the Big Green's lone victory. #10 Syracuse took the advantage early through the first 500 meters of the race, but #7 Dartmouth was able to close the gap to pull even by the 1000 mark. From there, Dartmouth gained an advantage and slowly moved past the Orange, which sprinted early with 500 to go, but the Big Green managed to keep its near boat-length lead for the win in 5:31.3. Syracuse crossed the line in 5:34.5.

The Orange got the better of Dartmouth's second varsity eight, winning in a time of 5:40.2 ahead of the Big Green in 5:50.7. Dartmouth jumped off the line with great aggression, but Syracuse was not rattled and settled into a fast rhythm for the second 1000 meters to eventually win by open water.

Syracuse also took the varsity four, the first race of the day, in fairly convincing fashion. Though it was a close start, the Orange pulled away fast and ultimately won in 6:24.9 ahead of the Big Green in 6:48.6.

Lastly, Syracuse won the novice eight race with a 7.6 second advantage over Dartmouth. The Big Green raced a strong opening 500 meters, but the Orange pushed back to gain the advantage by the midpoint. The Big Green had a surge after that, but never could overtake its opponent, as Syracuse went on to win in 5:47.0 ahead of Dartmouth in 5:54.6.

The varsity's number-seven national ranking heading into the IRA National Championship is its highest ranking ever in the USRowing Collegiate Coaches poll.

"We'll train hard in the week leading up to nationals (June 3-5) in Camden," said Bordeau. "There's speed to be gained in all crews, and with the league as tight as I can remember it ever being, we'll need to gain every bit of speed we can just to be in the mix."