Yale Athletics

On Saturday morning, the Yale lightweight crew fell just short in a trio of hard-fought races on the Cooper River, as the University of Pennsylvania claimed the Dodge and Colgan Cups for the second consecutive year.

All three of the day’s races were moved to the Cooper River due to concerns over the water levels on the Schuylkill River.

Racing against Ivy League rivals Penn and Columbia, the Bulldogs battled a stiff crosswind throughout the morning but were unable to hold off a fast-moving Penn squad, which took first place in all three Varsity Eight events.

The day opened with a scrappy contest between Yale’s third varsity eight and Penn’s third and fourth boats. The Quakers’ 3V jumped to a half-length lead within the first 20 strokes, taking advantage of early struggles by the Bulldogs as they adjusted to the wind. While Penn’s 4V faded quickly, the 3V extended their margin through the middle of the course.

In a fierce final sprint, the Elis surged back to overlap, but Penn’s early cushion proved decisive at the finish line as they crossed with a time of 6:29.10. Yale followed shortly after with a time of 6:32.82 and Penn’s 4V crew with a time of 6:57.57.

In the second varsity race, a bumpy start put the Y150 behind both Penn and Columbia. But the Bulldogs quickly regrouped, rowing through Columbia by the 750-meter mark and turning their attention to the leading Quakers. In the final 600 meters, Yale mounted a strong charge — but once again, Penn responded, holding off the Bulldogs by about a length and finishing with a time of 6:15.30. Yale followed at 6:19.85, and Columbia trailed at 6:24.29.

The marquee event, the varsity eight race, delivered the most dramatic duel of the day. Penn established an early lead, building nearly half a length on Yale by the midway point. But in the third 500, the Bulldogs launched a powerful move, narrowing the gap to a single seat and pulling ahead of Columbia.

With fans lining the riverbank, it looked as though the final sprint might deliver a photo finish. Instead, Penn unleashed a final burst of speed in the closing meters, crossing nearly a length ahead of Yale, with Columbia finishing by open water.

With their varsity eight victory, Penn retained the Marcellus Hartley Dodge Cup — an annual prize since 1955 — and secured the Colgan Cup for overall team points, a trophy first introduced in 2022.

The Bulldogs return to their home waters in Derby, Conn., on April 19 to host Dartmouth in their only home regatta of the season. The Durand Cup will be on the line.