The Crimson’s two losses came in the third varsity eight race and the second freshman race.
Navy took the 3V race by 10 seconds and the 2F race by 5.6 seconds. It was the first time Harvard’s 3V had lost all season.
NO. 3 HEAVYWEIGHTS vs. NAVY HEAVYWEIGHTS, PENNSYLVANIA
A powerful start by Navy in the first varsity eight race threatened the end of Harvard’s boat-club-wide undefeated streak, but the Crimson’s third 500 put to rest any worry that the Midshipmen would blemish Harvard’s record.
Because the Schuylkill course has a turn in it, starts are staggered, and Navy started slightly back of the Crimson. But the Midshipmen quickly made up the distance to take a commanding early lead.
“They had seven seats up on us at one point,” DiSanto said.
But Harvard was unfazed by Navy’s lead.
“We kind of knew they were going to go out hard,” DiSanto said. “I think that was kind of their plan. I don’t think anyone in our boat was too nervous. We haven’t had [to come from that far behind] before. It was good to be put in that situation and come back. It was just the nine of us keeping faith in each other and having composure.”
The Crimson moved through the Midshipmen in the third 500 and ultimately won the race by 3.6 seconds to claim the Adams Cup for the 12th straight time.
While the first varsity eight race was a tight battle for most of the race, the rest of the events played out rather predictably. Harvard’s second varsity eight won by 8.7 seconds, its freshman eight won by 6.2 seconds, the third varsity eight won by 7.8 seconds, and the fourth varsity eight won by two seconds.
The Quakers were third in each event save for the 4V race in which they did not compete.
The Crimson has yet to lose a race in any event—including a race in which the 4V raced Princeton’s 3V and the 4V’s wins over several programs’ 1Vs in the team’s first weekend of competition.
“It’s a pretty amazing thing,” DiSanto said. “It’s just something that’s happened. We’re trying to keep it going for as long as possible. It’s really a testament to our coaching.”
—Staff writer Christina C. McClintock can be reached at ccmcclin@fas.harvard.edu.