Novice Eight Wins Gold as Wellesley Takes Fourth at ECACs

WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Wellesley College crew team earned two medals, including gold in the novice race, capping a successful day of racing on Lake Quinsigamond at the 2012 ECAC National Invitational Collegiate Regatta. Wellesley finished fourth overall at the event, held in Worcester, MA.

Wellesley's novice eight turned in a spectacular performance, as the Blue earned a gold medal in their grand final. In the heats, Wellesley recorded a time of 7:13.756 to top Smith, Tufts and UNH. In the grand final, Wellesley took top honors with a time of 7:01.146, finishing ahead of Williams, Ithaca, Tufts, Smith and William Smith.

In fours action, the Blue earned a bronze medal, recording a time of 8:04.186 in the grand final. Wellesley finished behind only Conn. College and Hamilton, while defeating crews from Colby, Trinity, RIT and Tufts.

Wellesley's second varsity eight finished fourth overall at the event. The Blue advanced out of the heats, finishing second with a time of 6:55.350, behind Bates, but ahead of Trinity, WPI, Simmons, Hamilton and Tufts. In the grand final, Wellesley finished fourth overall in 7:01.587. The Blue ended behind Williams, Bates and Trinity, topping William Smith and Ithaca. 

In varsity action, Wellesley placed fourth in the grand final. In the morning heat, Wellesley took second place in 6:44.201, behind only William Smith, while topping Hamilton, Smith, Simmons and Mount Holyoke. In the afternoon's grand final, the Blue again took fourth (6:52.586), placing behind Williams, Bates and William Smith, but topping fast crews from Trinity and Ithaca.

Wellesley will now await selections to the 2012 NCAA Division III Rowing Championships, which will be held May 25th and 26th on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, NJ.