Cornell men’s heavyweight rowing will travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to race Harvard for the Robinson Cup on April 3. The regatta will take place on the Charles River and begin Saturday morning with the varsity eight at 7:40 a.m., followed by subsequent races through the morning. The event will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Robinson Cup is named in honor of Jack Robinson, a former Cornell coxswain who served as team captain in 2021 and 2022 before passing away during his senior year. The trophy holds special significance for both teams.
“He was a great coxswain, as well as a fantastic leader,” said Spirit of ’57 Director of Cornell Rowing Todd Kennett. “He was tough as nails, loved to compete, was very intelligent, and was able to get the most out of the athletes in his boat. Everyday I am reminded of his drive and enthusiasm.”
Cornell enters this competition after a strong home opener against Drexel where they won three races under challenging conditions but lost one due to illness-related lineup changes. Meanwhile, Harvard’s recent performance at the Sarasota Invitational included sweeping Washington in third varsity events and narrowly winning second varsity while finishing second in varsity eight races both days.
Kennett said about their upcoming opponent: “Harvard is very good. They are likely the fastest boats in the country in the 2V and 3V, and second or third in the Varsity. My biggest concern is that we produce our speed. We need our best for a chance, and even if we are behind, I really am working to get that effort so we can begin to fight in the future weeks against the rest of the league.” He added that committing to their best performance could help set up positive momentum regardless of results.
Cornell Big Red Men’s Rowing – Heavyweight is affiliated with Cornell University and competes within the Ivy League according to its official website. The program features Big Red as its mascot according to its official website and operates as a collegiate rowing program according to its official website. It is based in Ithaca, New York according to its official website.
