May 12, 2005

The Navy women's crew team will attempt to advance its varsity boat to the grand final of the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges Championship for the first time in school history when the 2005 edition of the Eastern Sprints is held Sunday on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.

Since first competing at the Eastern Sprints in 1996, Navy has twice advanced its varsity boat to the petite final and has a top showing of 11th at the 1999 championship.

"The Eastern Sprints League is the toughest and deepest rowing conference in the NCAA," said Navy head coach Mike Hughes. "Our first goal is to make the final, then make a run towards a berth in the national championship. We have had a solid season and are rowing very well at this time of year."

The Mids enter the weekend seeded seventh in the varsity race, the highest seed Navy has received heading into the championship, as well as tied for 22nd nationally in the latest U.S. Rowing Collegiate Rowing Coaches National Poll. The Mids were ranked 12th in the league prior to topping seventh-ranked Columbia April 30. Joining Navy in its trial heat are No. 1 Princeton, No. 6 Boston University, No. 12 Northeastern and No. 13 Rutgers. Navy defeated Rutgers and lost to Boston University during the regular season. The top-two boats in the heat will advance to the grand final.

In addition to being seeded seventh in the varsity race, Navy is also seeded 11th in the second varsity race, 10th in the first freshman race and 14th in the third varsity race.

Navy Trial Heat Schedule (Overall Seed)
8:20 a.m. -- First Novice -- Cornell (3), Princeton (4), Radcliffe (9),
Navy (10), MIT (15)
8:40 a.m. -- Second Varsity -- Yale (2), Cornell (5), Boston Univ. (8),
Navy (11), George Washington (14)
9:12 a.m. -- Varsity Eight -- Princeton (1), Boston Univ. (6), Navy
(7), Northeastern (12), Rutgers (13)
10:10 a.m. -- Third Varsity A -- Penn (2), Northeastern (5), Princeton
(8), Rutgers (11), Navy (14), MIT (17)
10:40 a.m. -- Third Varsity B -- (no seedings) Navy, Northeastern,
Radcliffe, Princeton, Boston Univ., Rutgers

Finals Schedule
2:05 / 2:15 p.m. -- Third Varsity B Petite / Grand Finals
2:50 / 3:00 / 3:10 p.m. -- Third Varsity A Third Level / Petite / Grand
Finals
3:15 / 3:25 / 3:35 p.m. -- Novice Eight Third Level / Petite / Grand
Finals
2:50 / 3:00 / 3:10 p.m. -- Second Varsity Third Level / Petite / Grand
Finals
4:25 / 4:35 / 4:45 p.m. -- First Varsity Third Level / Petite / Grand
Finals