Third Time Not Necessarily The Charm for W. Lightweights

It is simply a matter of coincidence, but call this the year of the number three for the Radcliffe varsity lightweight eight.

The Black and White finished third at the IRA National Championships, third in the final USRowing Collegiate poll amd third at Eastern Sprints.

It faced Princeton in its three final races of the season and lost all three times.

With three weeks off between the Eastern Sprints and the IRA National Championships, it still could not avoid a third-place finish or change the final order of the top-three teams.

Maybe three races on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J. was three too many.

After defeating eventual national champion Princeton in mid-April, the Black and White knew it could race with the Tigers. The only question remaining was whether this performance could be repeated when it mattered most in May and June.

In the end, Radcliffe could not repeat its early season success against Princeton and was forced to duel with unheralded No. 15 Mercyhurst while the Tigers battled Wisconsin for the national championship upfront.

At the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships this past weekend in Camden, Radcliffe finished third in a time of 6:37.44, just over one-tenth of a second ahead of Mercyhurst. Princeton won in a time of 6:26.24, and Wisconsin came in second at 6:30.07.

Three weeks earlier at the Eastern Sprints, the results were similar. Princeton finished on top with Wisconsin in second and Harvard trailing 12 seconds behind in third.

The result was similar at the Sprints for the varsity four, who also finished in third, 17 seconds back of the winning Princeton crew.

It was a slightly disappointing finish for the crew, who has won five National Championships since 1991. The Black and White felt it was set to renew in its status as an elite squad after beating Princeton earlier in the season.

“We have finally made it into the top tier of lightweight racing squads and it’s a blast to go out together and challenge anyone for 2,000 meters,” said captain Robin Lockwood at mid-season.

The Black and White first varsity, which loses just Lockwood to graduation, will have to wait until next season, however, to improve on its third-place finish at the Eastern Sprints.

Actually, Radcliffe will be looking to snap a string of bronze finishes at Sprints. How many years has the stretch lasted, you ask? That’s right—three.

WOMEN'S LIGHTWEIGHT CREW

RESULTS 3rd at EAWRCs, 3rd at IRAs

COACH Cecile Tucker

CAPTAINS Robin Lockwood

HIGHLIGHTS The women’s lightweights beat eventual national champion Princeton once this year at the Knecht Cup, but could never match that feat for the rest of the season.

The boat never lost to anyone other than Wisconsin or Princeton this season.