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Brown University
IRA National Championship
Men's Crew Opens Friday Heats at IRA Championship
6/1/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Crew
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Brown men's crew claimed a pair of top-two finishes as the Bears kicked off the first day of competition at the 116th IRA National Championship on a foggy Friday morning at Mercer Lake.
Brown's varsity and second varsity eight boats both finished runner-up in the morning heats to earn an automatic qualification to the Saturday A/B semifinals. The third varsity and varsity four boats placed third in their respective heats and will race in the afternoon repechages.
The varsity eight kicked off the racing for Bruno with a runner-up finish in the fourth heat and earned a direct spot in the A/B semifinals. Harvard established an early lead and held on the rest of the way to win the heat at 5:43.385. Brown had a firm lead over Penn at 700 meters and defended the second spot for the remainder of the race with a time of 5:45.82.
In the second varsity, Yale emerged from the fog with a slight advantage at 500 meters, followed by Brown and Boston University to form a leading pack. Brown increased its lead over the Terriers to a seven-seat advantage at the midway point and held on the rest of the way to cross at 5:50.29 for a direct spot to the A/B semis.
Brown was one of five crews in the third heat of the third varsity, as the Bears joined California and Boston University in a tightly contested pack off the start. Cal moved out in front and Brown secured a three-seat lead over BU, but the Terriers picked up the pace during the middle 1,000 meters, moving into second position with 500 meters remaining. Cal and BU claimed the top two spots before Brown crossed at 5:58.36 for third place.
The first heat of the varsity four featured five crews with only one direct trip to the A/B semifinals. Drexel led wire-to-wire to capture first place at 6:27.88, while Brown passed Boston University during the middle 1,000 meters, crossing third just short of Georgetown in a time of 6:36.97.
Brown will return for the repechage races Friday afternoon in the 3V (1:52 PM) and V4 (2:19 PM).
Friday Morning Results
Varsity – Heat 4
1 HARVARD - 5:43.385
2 BROWN - 5:45.827
3 PENNSYLVANIA - 5:49.527
4 CORNELL - 5:54.007
5 ST JOES - 5:57.919
6 BATES COLLEGE - 6:04.910
2V – Heat 4
1 YALE - 5:47.739
2 BROWN - 5:50.290
3 BU - 5:52.316
4 BATES COLLEGE - 6:05.646
5 STANFORD - 6:09.771
6 ST JOES - 6:12.115
3V – Heat 3
1 CALIFORNIA - 5:53.165
2 BU - 5:55.034
3 BROWN - 5:58.365
4 G WASHINGTON - 6:08.476
5 UCSD - 6:20.418
V4 – Heat 1
1 DREXEL - 6:27.888
2 GEORGETOWN - 6:33.976
3 BROWN - 6:36.975
4 NORTHEASTERN - 6:40.996
5 CORNELL - 6:44.871
