For the second straight year, powerhouse Princeton handed the race to Radcliffe. But this year, the Black and White heavies handed it to Cornell.

Headwinds on the narrow Cornell course proved to be more uncooperative than the choppy. Charles of last week as the varsity heavies record fell to 1-1.

Radcliffe raced to a half-boat lead in the first 500 meters of the 1500-meter race but couldn't keep up its concentration when Princeton made its move at the 600 mark. Princeton was out to avenge last year's loss to the Black and White when a "jumped seat" stopped the Tigers boat, letting Radcliffe take the lead.

History seemed to repeat itself when Princeton's seven seat caught a crab before the 1000 meter mark, momentarily paralyzing the Tigers. But it was a confident Cornell that cruised by in the inside lane, leaving a fatigued Radcliffe to pull itself home from the outside.

"We finished the race with some sense of confidence and some sense that we've got a lot of work to do," said Ellen Banney of the combination of a surprise victory over last year's Eastern Sprint champions and an unexpected loss to the Big Red. She said the team has proved it can row well together but endurance is needed. Coxswaine Virginia Newman added. "We know we can beat Princeton if we want to."

The team will row at Dartmouth next Saturday on another sheltered, narrow course. But Radcliffe has a slight edge as the Charles has been thawed longer than the river at Dartmouth.

The lightweights fared better than the heavies in Ithaca, showing they can pull together as a unit. They took the lead on Cornell's third varsity for the first 20 strokes and stretched it to win by open water. On May 1, they'll face the University of Rhode Island and Northeastern.