Sports in brief

Eastern Sprints spring gold for Crimson crew

The Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges’ 60th annual Eastern Sprints turned up gold for both the Harvard heavies and lightweights on May 15 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. Coach Harry Parker’s varsity captured its third straight gold medal on the afternoon, outpacing Princeton for the second consecutive year, this time by four seats. Harvard crossed the finish in 5:29.52 – 1.14 seconds ahead of the Tigers – and six ticks before Northeastern.

In lightweight competition, the Crimson managed a two-tenths of a second victory over Yale to capture its first gold medal since 1995. The varsity lights steered the 2,000 meters in course-record time, crossing the finish at 5:40.567 to better the Bulldogs (5:40.791) and Cornell (5:40.82).

By capturing the lightweight and heavyweight titles, Harvard Athletics earns its 14th Ivy League title of the 2004-05 academic year, matching Princeton’s all-time league mark set in 1999-00. Rowing will resume competition at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta June 2-4 in Camden, N.J.

Black and White place fourth at Eastern Sprints

Radcliffe crew captured three fourth-place finishes in the heavyweight races at the Eastern Sprints in Camden, N.J., on May 15. The varsity lightweights, meanwhile, took bronze. Out of 17 participating schools, the Black and White finished third for the Willing Trophy, which is awarded based on a team’s finish in each of the seven events.

Next up, the lightweights again visit Camden June 2-4 for the IRA National Championship Regatta.

– Compiled by Andrew Brooks