Radcliffe

The Black and White similarly struggled primarily against itself, facing overmatched competition.

“[We] try not to be cocky,” co-captain Lis Lambert said. “But recognize that we’re competing against Division III schools.”

Like Harvard, Radcliffe took advantage of the opportunity to square off against opposing crews to recreate the intangible rush of emotions that can’t be captured in practice.

“It’s a great rehearsal for [this weekend’s] Head of the Charles,” Lambert said. “There’s a feeling that you get on race day, when you’ve got officials and people you don’t know in the boat next to you.”

Despite the unusual quiet of the first two miles of the course, the Black and White avoided the Crimson’s stumbles during the head race, stringing together a high-cadence performance all the way through despite the tail wind.

Unlike Harvard, the women’s crew struggled on its sprint, lacking the crispness displayed in the longer race due to fatigue. With the 5000-meter race earlier in the day, the Black and White simply had less in the tank.

“[The head race] was more consistent and powerful,” Lambert said. “The sprint piece was tough. It was a hard race. We didn’t have the sense of control or ownership we had with the head piece.”

It won’t be sprints, but head races that count this weekend as both Harvard and Radcliffe take to the waters once more for the Head of the Charles.

“I think that this [head] piece that we did yesterday was actually fabulous [and shows] that we’re capable of putting together a great race,” Lambert said. “With a little kick of adrenaline and excitement, we’re going to have an awesome, awesome time on Sunday.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.