BOSTON — It was a fast morning of racing under sunny skies on the Charles River as the No. 11 Northeastern men's rowing team went head-to-head against one of the top crews in the nation, with No. 4 Harvard edging the Huskies in the first varsity to retain the Smith Cup.
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With a slight tailwind at the backs of the crews, Northeastern got off to a quick start in the first varsity race, leading by two seats through the opening 500 meters of the race. The Huskies held onto the lead through the midway mark of the race before Harvard pulled ahead just after the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge. The Crimson maintained its lead approaching the 1500-meter mark, extending it to a half-length lead with 500 meters to go. Northeastern wouldn't go quietly, though, and put on a push to cut into the gap before running out of water as Harvard took the Smith Cup by less than three seconds at 5:28.212. Northeastern's time of 5:31.145, meanwhile, marked a program record for fastest time on the Charles River basin course.Â
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The Harvard second varsity, ranked first in the nation, jumped out to an early lead on the Huskies in its race, leading by two seats in the second 500 before going up by half a length at the bridge. A push from Northeastern in the third 500 trimmed the Crimson advantage down the stretch, but Harvard would not relinquish to take it by four seconds at 5:32.641.
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It was more tight racing in the third varsity as Northeastern gave Harvard all could handle through the entire 2000-meter course. It was level through the first 500-meters before Harvard began to creep ahead in the second 500. The Crimson then held three quarter of a length lead on the Huskies through the bridge. Northeastern maintained contact through the remainder of the race, but Harvard showed why it's the top 3V crew in the country to take it by two seconds at 5:40.186.Â
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In what was the closest race of the morning, the fourth varsity race saw Northeastern out slightly through the first 500-meters with the crews neck and neck and the bridge. As Harvard made a push to overtake the lead by less than a seat in the third 500, the Huskies upped its stroke rate to stay with them down the stretch, going stroke for stroke before the Crimson edged NU by a bow ball at 5:50.200.
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Northeastern will close out the regular season on Saturday in Seattle as the Huskies first and second varsity boats compete at the Windemere Cup against No. 1 Washington and the Great Britain National Team. Racing begins at 2:20 p.m. (ET).
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