The Harvard men's heavyweight crew won the national championship for the sixth time in ten years with a thrilling. 29 second win over undefeated Dartmouth on June 13.
The Crimson rowed the 2000 meter course on Lake Harsha in Cincinnati, Ohio in a record 5:33.97 breaking Harvard's own record of 5:35,09 set in 1987.
Dartmouth crossed the line in 5:34.26, but heavy-weight coach Harry Parker said the margin was actually much closer.
"It was close, very close. Maybe about two or three inches," Parker said.
The two boats were so close, in fact, the judges had to resort to instant replay to select a winner. Dartmouth and Harvard remained on the water for 10 minutes before the judges announced the Crimson victory.
"It was really exciting, and exceptional race," Parker said. "But the replays showed pretty clearly that we won."
Harvard won the race by taking an early lead and hanging on to it. Senior stroke Bill Cooper paced the boat at 45 stroke per minute and the Crimson built a small early lead.
But Dartmouth, undefeated all season and winners of the Eastern Sprints, rowed a strong second 500 to put the crews neck-and-neck for the second half of the race.
Harvard, rowing at a 38.5 pace and then at a 41 on the sprint, edged out the Big Green at the finish.
The win avenged Harvard's only other loss this season: Dartmouth at the Eastern Sprints. Even though he has seen his share of national championships in 30 years as a crew coach, Parker admitted that this finish was a thrill."
"Other races have been comparable to this one, but none have been better," the coach said.
Barcelona Dreamin'
Three Harvard athletes won bronze medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics: David Berkoff '89 in the 200 meter backstroke, Julia Trotman '88 in European-class yachting and Anna Seaton '86 in the women's crew pairs.
Overall, Harvard sent more athletes and coaches to the 1992 Summer Olympics than any school in the country, according to university officials. A total of 22 current and former Harvard athletes and coaches participated.
Crew was by far the most well-represented sport, with 12 athletes and men's lightweight coach Charlie Butt and women's novice coach Holly Hatton competing for medals.
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