WELLESLEY CREW TAKES FOURTH PLACE AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS!
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Wellesley College crew team wrapped up the 2014 NCAA Division III Rowing Championships with a third-place finish from the varsity eight and a fourth-place overall team finish.
In the team standings, Wellesley was fourth overall, marking the program's highest team finish since the Blue were third in 2012. The Blue racked up 28 total points between the first and second varsity boats. Bates and Williams each recorded 33 points, with Williams taking second and Bates, third. Trinity took the team national title with 40 points. Wesleyan (5th-26) and Washington College (6th-17) rounded out the team finishes.
The second varsity boat opened the day with a commanding win in the petite final, securing fifth place points for the boat. The Blue led by open water midway through the race and continued on for more than a 25-second victory over Washington College. Wellesley clocked in a 7:38.842, followed by Washington College in 8:05.532.
In a tightly contested varsity eight grand final, Wellesley used a furious sprint to the finish to claim third place and a spot on the podium. The Blue hung with the top four crews in the race, and were a close second after 1,000-meters. As the race continued, Trinity and Williams took over the lead, putting Bates third and Wellesley fourth. Over the final 250-meters, the Blue used a strong sprint to overtake Bates and wrap up a podium finish.
Final placements in the varsity eight grand final saw Trinity win the race in 7:06.333, with Williams in second in 7:08.053. Wellesley was third in 7:13.076 and Bates was in fourth in 7:13.373. Wesleyan (7:22.676) and Washington College (7:25.445) rounded out the field in the grand finals.
Wellesley's first varsity eight boat consists of sophomore coxswain Alessandra Zaldivar-Giuffredi, and rowers, sophomore Meg Roberts, senior Becca Kimball, sophomore Charlotte Benishek, first-year Kathryn Barth, junior Emma Reuder, first-year Hannah Barton, senior Ildi Gaal, and sophomore Olivia Thayer.
The Wellesley second varsity eight is made up of first-year coxswain Anna Thomas, and rowers, sophomore Sierra Luther, sophomore Grace Howland, sophomore Sahar Ibrahim, senior Maggie West, first-year Anna Hakes, first-year Olivia Duggan, senior Caeden Brynie, and sophomore Katie Burnett.
This is the fifth straight season that Wellesley has closed the season with a top-five national finish. Today's race also marked the final competition for Wellesley crew's class of 2014. Blue seniors Kimball, Gaal, West, and Brynie will be honored later today with an on-site commencement ceremony.
The 2014 NCAA Crew Championships were co-hosted by the Indiana Sports Corporation and Notre Dame University.
Row2k.com photo
Row2k.com photo
