Battle for the Muri Cup; 6th ranked
Engineers win in Novice 4 event
Moving up to sixth in the most recent national rankings — the highest ever for MIT — the Engineers Women’s Lightweight Crew took on first-ranked Harvard-Radcliffe in the battle for the Muri Cup. Harvard took the Cup in the Varsity 8 race and also won 2V event, with the Engineers picking up a win in the Novice 4 competition.
On a day with flat water and plenty of sunshine, MIT Varsity 8 turned in an excellent effort, coming home with a time of 6:51.9, the fastest ever for the program on the Charles. Harvard-Radcliffe took the race, however, beating MIT to the line by a little more than 12 seconds. With the win, the Crimson claimed the Muri Cup, which honors MIT alumna and Harvard assistant lightweight coach Linda Muri ’85 for her achievements as both an athlete and coach.
MIT picked up its win in the Novice 4 race. The Engineers stayed with the Harvard-Radcliffe crew until reaching the MIT Boathouse. There, the Engineers moved through the Crimson crew and continued to pull away, winning by nearly 25 seconds.
In the second Varsity 8 race, MIT turned in a strong and aggressive effort, but finished third to a pair of boats from Harvard-Radcliffe, crossing the line under 10 seconds behind the Crimson 3V boat.
It was the last home race of the season for MIT, with Lauren J. Ayers ’13, Kathleen M. Inman ’13, Chandler L. Burfield ’13, and Anne G. Warren ’13 of the Varsity 8 team all competing for the final time on the Charles. Both schools raced in “Row for Boston” T-shirts, designed by Harvard-Radcliffe rower Corinne Wee, to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital Marathon Fund.
MIT competes next in the Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia on May 10–11.