Princeton Sets Championship Record, Takes Third Women’s Rowing Title in Four Years

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May 18, 2014

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PENNSAUKEN, N.J. — Princeton has a race for
the records book with a blistering time of 6:15.412 in the first
varsity eight grand final to keep possesion of the Sally P.
Shoemaker Ivy League Championship Trophy for the third time in four
years.

The Tigers’ time set an Ivy League Championship record,
eclipsing the previous mark of 6:15.60 by Yale in 2005. Princeton
came in as the fastest V8 for the second-straight year to record
the program’s 14th League crown and the conference’s automatic bid
to the NCAA Championships on May 30-June 1 at Eagle Creek Park in
Indianapolis.

“They did a really nice job,” said head coach Lori
Dauphiny, who has guided Princeton to six Ivy League
championships. “They were on a mission. They did a really nice job
handling the conditions. I really don’t know what to say. I
knew they had something in them, but I didn’t know they could
pull off a course record.

“I believed in them, and I am really proud of them,” she
added.

Similar to last year, Princeton jumped out to a great start. The
Tigers were up nearly two-and-a half seconds by the 500-meter mark
and stretched their lead to open water by the midway point.
Princeton’s top boat kept a high stroke rate over the final 1000
meters to cross the finish line in record time. Top-seeded Brown
came in second at 6:19.722, just ahead of Radcliffe at
6:22.622.

Brown showed the depth necessary to be in contention for a ninth
NCAA title in two weeks, winning the varsity four A, varsity four B
and second varsity eight in succession after placing second in the
third varsity eight. That strong showing earned the Bears the team
points trophy ahead of Princeton (73) and Radcliffe (60) with 81
points.