Princeton University Athletics
Harvard Edges Princeton And MIT In Alternate Course
April 25, 2000 | Heavyweight Rowing
April 22, 2000
Cambridge, Mass. - The Harvard men's heavyweight crew, ranked fourth in the nation, solidified its standing with a victory over fifth-ranked Princeton and MIT in the 65th rowing of the Compton Cup Saturday morning on the Charles River.
Heavy rains and damaging winds forced race officials to re-work the course. The crews rowed an 1,850-meter course located further upstream and engaged in "head-style" racing, instead of the more common side-by-side contests. Boats were launched from the starting line at one-minute intervals.
The Harvard men were timed in 5:28.9, with Princeton following in 5:31.8. Northeastern, a late addition to the race, was clocked in 5:34.6, with MIT crossing the finish line in 6:06.9. Northeastern became an unofficial entry after its scheduled race vs. Brown was postponed. With the win, Harvard captures the Compton Cup for the 51st time in its 64-year history and takes the trophy back from a Princeton squad that had won it last year on Lake Carnegie. Harvard has won the last nine Compton races contested on the Charles. "This result tells us what we have felt from the beginning of the season. We have a good crew and we're getting faster," said Harvard head coach Harry Parker, now 34-4 in Compton Cup races. "As a coach, that's what you want to see.
"Moving the course [upstream] gave us improved conditions and I felt all the crews handled the format well and had good races," added Parker.
Both the junior varsity and freshman races were declared "dead heats" with Princeton despite Harvard posting the faster times. In the JV contest, Harvard finished in 5:40.5, with Princeton (5:41.1) next, and Northeastern (5:48.0) third. The Crimson frosh had a 5:49.6 clocking, the Tigers at 5:50.6, Northeastern at 6:01, and MIT finishing in 6:04.7. Harvard also won the third varsity and second freshman contests.
Conditions: Heavy Rain. Wind 20 - 30 MPH. Gusty Races rowed over the first 2000m of the Head of Charles course, staring above the BU Bridge, ending below the Weeks bridge. Rowed single file approximately one minute between crews. Good water, crosswind. Course length approximately 1900M.
Men's Heavyweight Crew
Varsity Eight Harvard 5:28.9 Princeton 5:31.8 Northeastern 5:34.6 MIT 6:06.9
Second Varsity Tie: Harvard and Princeton 5:40.8 Northeastern 5:48.3
Third Varsity Harvard 3V 5:59.0 Princeton 6:01.1 Harvard 4V 6:22 Northeastern 6:28
First Freshman Tie:Harvard and Princeton 5:50.1 Northeastern 6:01 MIT 6:04.7
Second Freshman Harvard 6:19.3 MIT 6:29.3 Princeton 6:34.1