Laxwomen Triumph, Oarswomen Vanquished

If Dartmouth's number-one-ranking in the East isn't enough incentive for the Radcliffe heavyweight crew team when the Eastern Sprints roll around next weekend, certainly what happened yesterday on the Connecticut River in Hanover, N.H. ought to be.

The Big Green's top-ranked varsity crew toppled the East's second-ranked Black and White squad by just one tiny second in the final race for both squads before the Sprints.

Using a slight head wind, Dartmouth edged out the visiting Black and White, 4:40.0 to 4:41.0.

Originally scheduled for two weeks ago on the Charles River, the race was postponed until yesterday because of a German measles epidemic that plagued the Big Green's campus.

The only bumps yesterday, however, were the goose bumps the Radcliffe squad suffered when it crossed the finish line just four seat lengths behind Dartmouth.

The frustrating loss to last year's national runners-up ruined Radcliffe's bid for a perfect season. Now 4-1, the Oarswomen will turn their attention to the Sprints, where they'll most certainly be seeded second behind the Big Green.

The all-important seeding will determine the strength of the individual heats, from which the finalists will be drawn Last year, Radcliffe finished fourth.

"We've got 10 days to polish up," said Jenny Hale, who returned to the boat yesterday after a two-week absence because of an injury.

The Dartmouth varsity win was just the start, however, of Big Green sweep. The hosts won each of the day's four races with only the varsity squeakier providing much excitement.

In junior varsity action, the Dartmouth crew used a slight tailwind top soundly beat Radcliffe, 4:40.6 to 4:48.5.

On the novice side, the Big Green continued the onslaught, posting wins in the first and second boat heats. The hosts toppled Radcliffe's first novice boat, 4:43.5 to 4:50.5, and then throttled the second novice boat, 4:51.6 to 5:08.9.

THE NOTEBOOK: The race was moved from the Charles to the Connecticut River because the Dartmouth crew could not afford another road trip before the Sprints...The Sprints will be held on Lake Waramaug in New Preston, Conn.

On the Connecticut River

at Hanover, N.H.

Varsity: 1. Dartmouth 4:40.0; 2. Radcliffe (bow, Jocelyn McArthur; 2. Eleanor Prior; 3. Allison Townley; 4. Joyce Gallagher; 5. Ellen Kennlly; 6. Marianne Romak; 7. Jenny Hale; stroke, Rosemary Pugh; cox, Rachel Miller) 4:41.0.

Junior Varsity: 1. Dartmouth 4:40.6; 2. Radcliffe 4:48.5.

First Novice: 1. Dartmouth 4:45.5; 2. Radcliffe 4:50.5.

Second Novice: 1. Dartmouth 4:51.6; 2. Radcliffe 5:08.9.