Saints With Another Impressive Showing at Head of the Genesee
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George RepickyThe Saints "B" boat finished ninth overall Sunday out of 28 boats.
Oct. 12: The St. Lawrence University women's crew team put on an impressive performance Sunday at the Head of the Genesee in Rochester, NY with all three of the boats indicating promising expectations for the 2009-10 seasons.
St. Lawrence head coach Nick Hughes explained that much of the fall season is dedicated to rowing even boats to give the novices race experience and prepare them for the crew team's highly competitive season: the spring. This weekend's results demonstrated how the women's hard work, effort and commitment are already paying off.
All three eights rowed in the women's open eight 5k event in the morning, and in the afternoon they also competed in the 1500 meter sprint race. St. Lawrence raced against 28 other boats.
The Saints "B" boat from the previous weekend finished first for the Scarlet and Brown with a time of 18:01.20. First-year Rachel Gartland coxed the eight. Coach Hughes said that the Rochester, NY native "did a nice job coxing on her home course." Senior Eloise Lachance sat stroke seat, followed by senior Brianna Kehl at seven, senior Amelia Lalley at six, sophomore Hannah Brubaker at five, junior Megan Gallagher at four, sophomore Brianna Tidd at three, sophomore Elizabeth Webber at two, and sophomore Jeannine Condon at bow.
The Saints "A" boat finished roughly 12 seconds behind the "B" boat with a time of 18:13.61. Senior Amelia Bell sat stroke seat followed by senior Jane Connolly at seven, sophomore Kathleen Slocum at six, senior Erin Hussey at five, sophomore Sarah Reynolds at four, sophomore Amanda Brewer at three, senior Corrie Mersereau at two, and senior Kate Roy at bow. Senior Catherine Burke sat as coxswain of the A boat.
The Saints "C" boat, composed of mainly novices, finished with a time of 18:46.94. First-year Jessica Burdette sat at stroke seat, followed by first-year Courtney Higgins-Lambert at seven, first-year Maggie Fellows at six, first-year Sally Dankner at five, first-year Madeline Fones at four, first-year Alissa McCaffery at three, Kaitlin Summers at two, and junior Britney Tyler at bow.
In the 1500 meter sprint event, the Saints "B" boat finished first again with a time of 5:15. 76. The "C" boat followed almost nine seconds behind with a time of 5:24.36, while the "A" boat finished just five seconds behind that at 5:29.55.
Coach Hughes explained that the eights rowed much better in the morning then they did in the afternoon. "It was a function of not rowing at very high ratings," Coach Hughes said. "That will come as we gain strength and technical proficiency."
Overall, the Saints "B" boat finished ninth, the "A" boat finished 16th and the "C" boat finished 18th.
"The team's commitment to rowing even boats is paying dividends in terms of the depth of our team," Coach Hughes said. "Everyone is moving in the right direction technically and physiologically."
The Saints will compete at the prestigious Head of the Charles this upcoming weekend, Sunday Oct. 18 on the Charles River in Boston, MA where they will stack a boat for the first time this season.