Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Knecht Cup Regatta
Novice Eight Take Fifth in Grand Final, Varsity Eight Fourth in Petite Final at Knecht Cup
4/11/2009 7:37:34 PM | Men's Rowing
Camden, N.J. - The Drexel men's novice eight finished their impressive run in the Knecht Cup Regatta as the boat took fifth place in the grand final. The Dragons' varsity eight boat took fourth place in the petite final while the junior varsity eight was the runner-up in their petite final.
In Saturday's grand final the Dragons' novice eight finished ahead of Hobart as Drexel posted a time of 7:11.9, good for fifth place. The winner of the race was Rutgers with a time of 6:52.1. The Drexel novice eight took second in their semifinal race to claim a spot in the grand final. The boat took second in its preliminary heat to earn a place in the semi-final before its second-place finish reserved the spot in the finals. The Drexel novice boat competed in the second of three preliminary heats to start its day. The Dragons needed a top three finish to move to the semifinals and they came through as they finished ahead of Hobart, La Salle, Lafayette and Maryland to advance. The time of 6:44.6 was behind only Rutgers' 6:39.6 but a full two seconds ahead of third-place Hobart. In the semifinal race, Drexel again needed to finish in the top three of its heat to advance to the prestigious grand final. Drexel cruised to second place as the Dragons finished ahead of Hobart, Lehigh, Marietta and Lafayette. The Dragons shaved more than eight seconds off of their preliminary time as they were clocked at 6:36.5. Only Bucknell had a faster time in their heat.
Drexel's second eight finished behind only Lehigh in the petite final as the Dragons' boat was clocked at 7:03.5. The Dragons defeated Boston College and Rochester while the time was better than two of the times recorded by entrants in the grand final. The junior varsity eight narrowly missed a spot in the grand final as the Dragons finished fourth in their heat with only the top three times advancing to the grand final. Drexel was just edged at the line by Bucknell for the final spot while the Dragons' time of 6:40.6 would have been good for third place in the other heat and a berth in the grand final.
Drexel's varsity eight boat crossed at 6:27.5 to take fourth place in the petite final. Lehigh won the petite final in the tightly contested race. The Dragons' varsity eight made quick work of the preliminary heat to advance to the semifinals. A second-place finish with a time of 6:16.9 assured the boat a semifinal race as the top four times in each heat advanced. In the semifinal, Drexel was unable to finish in the top three and will race in the petite final on Saturday. The Dragons' varsity eight took sixth in the semifinal.
