Harvard Crew Finishes First; UCLA Is Last

BANTAM, Ohio — Harvard won its third consecutive national collegiate rowing championship Saturday with a two-second victory over Washington.

The Harvard crew covered the 2,000-meter course on Lake Harsha in 5 minutes 35.5 seconds to win the Herschede Cup, symbolizing the national championship. Washington, which won the 1984 title, finished in 5:38.93. The Huskies, lost the Pacific Coast rowing championship to UCLA this season.

Northeastern, which beat Harvard in a dual regatta earlier this year, was third in 5:39.61. Pennsylvania, the Intercollegiate Rowing Assn. champion, was fourth in 5:39.81; Wisconsin, which won the national championship in 1986, was fifth in 5:42.47, and UCLA was last in 5:43.35.

The race was held at East Fork State Park, east of Cincinnati. As the champion, Harvard gained a berth in the Henley Royal Regatta in England.