May 14, 2006

CAMDEN, N.J. - A sixth-place finish in the grand final by the second varsity boat highlighted the day for the Navy women's crew team at the Eastern Sprints Championship held Sunday on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.

The appearance in the grand final marked the first time in program history that either Navy varsity boat advanced to the championship race at the regatta. Navy set program highs last year when the varsity boat placed 10th overall and the second varsity boat placed ninth, respectively, at the championship.

"This was a landmark day for our program," said Navy head coach Mike Hughes. "The junior varsity boat making the grand final is a huge step forward for this team."

Navy entered this year's edition of the Eastern Sprints with its second varsity boat seeded seventh overall and placed into a trial heat with No. 1 Brown and No. 6 Northeastern. Only the first and second-place boats during the trial heat advancing to the grand final, with the third and fourth-place boats moving into the petite final.

The Bears comfortably won the heat with a time of 7:07.03, with the Mids placing second in a time of 7:23.11. The Huskies would record a time of 7:25.55 to place third in the heat.

Navy would then post a time of 7:35.28 in the ensuing grand final to place sixth.

Navy's varsity boat ended its day on a high note by posting a five-second victory in the third-level final. The Mids won the race in a time of 7:32.46 after placing fifth in its trial heat.

"It was a disappointing trial heat for the varsity boat, but they redeemed themselves with a much better performance in the final," said Hughes.

Navy's third varsity boat placed sixth in the petite final, the first novice boat placed second in the third-level final and the second novice boat placed fourth in its lone race of the day.

First Varsity Eight - 13th of 16 boats overall
Trial Heat - 5th of 6 boats, 7:33.95
Third-Level Final - 1st of 4 boats, 7:32.46
Third-Level Final Results - Navy, 7:32.46; Rutgers, 7:37.01; Boston College, 7:42.64; Georgetown, 7:45.74

Second Varsity Eight - 6th of 15 boats overall
Trial Heat - 2nd of 6 boats, 7:23.11
Grand Final - 6th of 6 boats, 7:35.28
Grand Final Results - Brown, 6:55.50; Yale, 7:06.26; Radcliffe, 7:10.28; Princeton, 7:18.77; Boston University, 7:26.47; Navy, 7:35.28

Third Varsity Four - 12th of 13 boats overall
Trial Heat - 3rd of 4 boats, 8:46.41
Petite Final - 6th of 7 boats
Petite Final Results - Princeton, 8:17.55; Georgetown, 8:38.44; MIT, 8:42.08; Rutgers, 8:48.04; Columbia, 8:48.58; Navy, 8:53.03; Boston College, 9:02.28

First Novice Eight - 14th of 16 boats overall
Trial Heat - 5th of 5 boats, 7:54.36
Third-Level Final - 2nd of 4 boats
Third-Level Final Results - Penn, 7:45.07; Navy, 7:50.14; MIT, 8:04.56; George Washington, 8:12.15

Second Novice Eight - 4th of 5 boats overall
Final - 4th of 5 boats
Final Results - Dartmouth, 7:26.56; Radcliffe, 7:39.07; Columbia, 7:50.88; Navy, 7:53.27; Cornell, 7:54.63