Worcester, Mass. – The Brown Bears men’s crew team had an eventful day at the 79th Eastern Sprints on Lake Quinsigamond. Four out of five of their boats competed in the Grand Finals, and they celebrated two podium finishes: the Varsity Four took gold, while the Third Varsity Eight clinched bronze, helping Brown tie for third overall in the Rowe Cup standings with Northeastern.
In the weeks leading up to the Sprints, the Bears focused heavily on practice. They emphasized both power and technique, setting the stage for a strong performance.
The First Varsity, coxed by Elenna Seguin and stroked by David Person, came in second in their heat with a time of 5:43.102. This performance marked the 18th consecutive year that Brown’s V8 qualified for the Grand Finals at the Eastern Sprints.
During the Grand Final, the Bears raced notably hard, managing to close the gap in the latter half of the competition. Ultimately, they finished in sixth place with a time of 5:40.629, just a few seconds away from a higher position, as the difference between third and sixth was only 3.128 seconds.
The Second Varsity Eight, helmed by Jack Mershon and stroked by Dom Valt, also secured second place in their heat, clocking in at 5:41.232, barely behind Princeton. In the Grand Final, they finished fifth with a final time of 5:46.240, maintaining a lead over Dartmouth.
The Third Varsity Eight, coxed by Rahul Ramakrishnan and stroked by Fraser Burdett, continued their success by securing a third-place finish in their Grand Final. After coming in second in their heat, they fought hard against Syracuse for the bronze, cruising to a time of 6:05.262. This marked their second consecutive third-place finish at the Sprints.
The Fourth Varsity had a close morning heat, where they finished fourth with a time of 5:59.808, advancing to the Petite Final. Coxed by Adelaide Poulson and stroked by Reed Lucke, they entered a fierce race with Northeastern, ultimately winning by a narrow margin of just 0.322 seconds with a time of 6:10.152.
In its first race of the season, the Varsity Four achieved a spectacular victory. Coxed by Vijay Ramakrishnan and stroked by Nicolas Abril, they finished in 7:05.630, winning gold by defeating Princeton by 2.334 seconds.
The Bears’ strong performances are part of a trend seen in college rowing, with competition growing fiercer each year. Recent statistics show that programs like Brown are increasingly focusing on early-season conditioning and mindset, reflecting a professional attitude that hasn’t always characterized college sports. As noted by collegiate rowing coach Sarah Jones, “It’s not just about the boats anymore; it’s about building mental toughness in our athletes.”
To see the full results from the races and to stay updated, follow the Brown Bears on social media or visit Brown University’s official athletics page.
