By Bill Alden

Competing in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships last weekend on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J., Princeton University men’s crews got themselves in contention for medals.

The Tigers men’s heavyweight varsity eight and third varsity eight reached their grand final as did the Princeton men’s lightweight varsity eight and second varsity eight.

Unfortunately, despite some valiant efforts, none of the four boats earned a spot on the podium.

As for the heavyweights, the varsity eight finished fourth in its grand final with a time of 5:32.200 over the 2,000-meter course, narrowly missing out on a medal as very little separated the top four boats. Washington placed first in 5:29.78 with Harvard taking second in 5:30.750 and Dartmouth coming in third at 5:30.900.

The men’s heavyweight 3V took fifth in its grand final, clocking a time of 5:42.070 with Harvard taking first in 5:29.060 followed by Washington (5:29.090), California (5:33.550), and Yale (5:40.790).

The Tigers finished fifth in the team point standings for the regatta’s Ten Eyck Trophy with 237 points. Washington took first with 285 with Harvard (279) taking second, Cal (244) coming in third and Brown (238) finishing fourth.

The men’s lightweight second varsity eight came agonizingly close to a medal, missing out by the slimmest of margins, finishing fourth in 5:43.170 as it narrowly trailed third-place Columbia (5:42.850). Harvard came in first at 5:39.980 in the grand final with Penn Quakers coming in second with a time of 5:41.300.

The Tiger men’s lightweight varsity eight finished fifth (5:36.750) in its grand final. Harvard placed first in 5:29.620 followed by Dartmouth (5:32.250), MIT (5:34.390), and Penn (5:34.910).

The Princeton lightweights earned a fourth-place finish in the team standings at the event as they totaled 37.5 points. Harvard placed first with 54 while Dartmouth took second (45), and Penn placed third (43.5).