The Single Marine Program men's dragon boat team celebrates after crossing the line in first place for their heat with a time of 5 minutes and 14 seconds. The team was slightly behind the Navy men's team, who raced later in the day and finished with a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
The Single Marine Program men's dragon boat team celebrates after crossing the line in first place for their heat with a time of 5 minutes and 14 seconds. The team was slightly behind the Navy men's team, who raced later in the day and finished with a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
The Single Marine Program women's dragon boat team celebrates after winning their heat with a time of 5 minutes and 53 seconds. Many military teams competed against Japanese teams in the 37th Naha Hari dragon boat races that were held in Naha Port. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
The female Single Marine Program dragon boat team races toward the finish line during the 37th annual Naha Hari dragon boat races held in Naha Port Thursday. They won their heat with a time of 5 minutes and 53 seconds - beating many male teams in the process. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
A spectator peers out from underneath a tent at the 37th annual Naha Hari dragon boat races held Thursday in Okinawa's Naha Port. Despite the on-again-off-again rain, many people turned out to watch the dragon boat teams battle it out in the port. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the female Army dragon boat team look at their official time on the time board. The team crossed the finish line in 6 minutes and 19 seconds, placing second in their heat, beating an all-male team and beating their 2010 time by about 20 seconds. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the male Air Force Dragon Boat team loft their trophy into the air and celebrate after finishing first in their heat. They narrowly beat out the Army team, who came in just three seconds behind them. Winners of each heat received a trophy. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
NAHA, Okinawa — The Navy paddled 50-foot boats through the rain and dreary conditions at Tomari Port to come out on top at the 37th annual Naha Hari dragon boat races.
The Navy set blistering times to capture first place among military teams in both the male and female divisions.
The men’s time of 5 minutes, 8 seconds was one of the fastest times of the day and the female’s time of 5 minutes, 30 seconds beat out the times of many male teams.
Other notable times of the day included the male Single Marine Program time of 5 minutes and 14 seconds as well as their female team, who crossed the line with a time of 5 minutes, 53 seconds.
This year also marked the last year of Tonja Wadsworth’s tenure as coach of the Army’s female dragon boat team.
She gave an emotional speech after her team competed in one of the earlier races of the day.
“I’ve never been so proud of you guys,” she said looking around at the crew she coached three evenings a week for the past three months. “I couldn’t have asked any more from you all. You faced two men’s teams and kicked butt.”
Her crew placed second in their heat with an impressive time of 6 minutes, 19 seconds, nearly 20 seconds faster than last year.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Denneny Cochran, the wife of a Marine Corps officer, who participated on the Army team with a friend. “Halfway through the race I was wondering when it was going to end, but all of our practices over the past three months had prepared us for the race.”
