Sports Briefs: W. Crew outstroked by Princeton's top crews

In the first Varsity Eight, the Quakers' time of 6:46.9 placed them last behind Princeton (6:24.0) and Dartmouth (6:28.2). Penn coach Barb Kirch said she "would have liked to finish closer" but was hardly shocked by the margin. Kirch said her team's ability to stay with Princeton for the first 500 was an encouraging sign with Eastern Sprints, the pinnacle of the rowing season, steadily approaching. Kirch was also pleased with Penn's performance in the Varsity Four (7:29.6), finishing third just one second behind the Big Green. The four rowers will learn on May 19 if they qualified to represent the Mid-Atlantic region nationally in the event. In the novice race, Penn's time of 6:47.2 placed them second behind Princeton, while the second novice boat finished last (7:17.7). Coach Susan Herman said her team's come-from-behind victory over Dartmouth showed improvement from the Quakers' performance in the Class of '89 Plate the previous weekend, when they struggled and lost in the final sprint. Eastern Sprints is up next for the Quakers on May 10 at Lake Waramaugh in New Preston, Conn. -- Kate Goldhaber