Sport: The Greatest Crew

Not since the Olympics at Helsinki last summer, when they whipped the Russians in the final quarter mile, had Navy's undefeated crew faced such a challenge. Navy, sprint champions of the East at 2,000 meters, faced the rangy oarsmen of the University of Washington, undefeated this season and determined to revenge their poor showing in last year's Olympic trials. Moreover, the three-mile distance of the Syracuse Regatta was made to order for long-ranging Washington, while Navy had not raced beyond a mile and three quarters all season. Posted conspicuously in the Washington boathouse was the sign: "Sink the Navy."

Although there were nine other varsity crews in the championship race, the majority of the crowd of 18,000 which lined the banks of Lake Onondaga had eyes only for Navy and Washington. At the referee's shout of "Ready all . . . Row!", Navy spurted off at 40 strokes a minute. The fast start gave Navy a slim lead over Washington at the half-mile mark. By then, following the pre-race instructions of its canny Coach Rusty Callow, Navy began to save strength, switched to a long, easy 28-stroke-a-minute beat, to have plenty left for a finish sprint.

At the two-mile mark, it was Navy, Cornell and Washington, with a bare length separating the first from the third shell. Half a mile from the finish, Washington made its bid. Pouring on the power, the Huskies sprinted past Cornell and began to crowd Navy. But Navy was ready. Upping stroke to 39, Navy met the challenge, then crushed it and slowly pulled away.

At the finish, it was Navy by more than a length; it meant the intercollegiate title and Navy's 20th straight victory, longest undefeated record in rowing history. A surprisingly strong Cornell crew nipped Washington for second place. After the race, Navy Coach Callow, 62, dean of U.S. crew coaches, handed his team an accolade: "The greatest I have ever coached." It was Callow's hail & farewell to an eight-man crew of seniors. Same day, his junior varsity crew, on which Navy must build next year, lost to Washington's j.v. by six lengths.