ITHACA, N.Y. – The No. 5 Cornell men's lightweight rowing team started its spring season by claiming the Matthews Cup, defeating Penn in the first varsity 8 race, as well as the Leonard Cup for the best team performance against the Quakers and Harvard, this morning on the Cayuga Lake Inlet.

“Our first cup race of the season and in the newly dedicated Cornell Rowing Center showed out team's depth and freshman development is strong,” said Chris Kerber, The Henry E. Bartels '48 Head Coach of Lightweight Rowing.  “It is important we compete well with these fast league crews early in the season.”

The Big Red is back in action next weekend as it travels to Princeton to face the Tigers and Yale on Saturday, April 14.

Leonard and Matthews Cups  
Pennsylvania – Harvard- Cornell
Cayuga Inlet – Ithaca, NY  
April 7, 2012
Umpire: Anthony Johnson   

First Freshmen 8
1. Harvard(3) – 6:08.0
2. Cornell(1) – 6:12.2
3. Penn (2) – 6:16.7

Varsity 8
1. Harvard(3) – 6:02.8
2. Cornell(1) – 6:09.1
3. Penn (2) – 6:21.9

Second Varsity 8
1. Cornell (2) – 6:16.6
2. Harvard (1) – 6:32.0
3. Penn (3) – 6:36.3

Third Varsity 8
1. Cornell (2) – 6:36.4
2. Harvard(1) – 6:56.7
3. Penn (3) – 7:06.3

Second Freshmen 4
1. Harvard 'A' (1) – 7:35.9
2. Harvard 'B' (3) – 7:42.0
3. Cornell (2) – 8:14.8