May 30, 2009
Shorewomen's Varsity Eight is 13th-Place
Boat at NCAA Division III Championships

CHERRY HILL, NJ -- The Washington College women's rowing team's first varsity eight won the third-level final and finished 13th of 16 boats overall at the NCAA Division III Championships contested yesterday and today on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, NJ. This was the Shorewomen's second straight appearance at the NCAA Championships.

The Shorewomen finished fourth of six boats in their Friday morning heat, which was raced under overcast skies with temperatures in the low 60s, in 7:19.70 to advance to the petitie qualifier. The Shorewomen's time would have placed them second in either of the other two heats. Trinity I won the heat in 6:58.10 to advance directly to the grand final. Ithaca I was second in 7:02.70 and Williams II was third in 7:10.40 as both boats advanced to the grand qualifier. Smith II was fifth in 7:40.10 and St. Lawrence II was sixth in 7:49.50 as both boats joined the Shorewomen in the petite qualifier. The order of the boats was the same at the 500, 1000, and 1500 meter marks as it was at the 2000-meter finish line.

Washington was fifth of seven boats in Friday afternoon's petite qualifier in 7:02.17, placing the Shorewomen in Saturday's third-level final. Bates II won the petite qualifier in 6:53.27, Ithaca II second in 6:56.47, Willamette third in 6:58.12, Puget Sound II fourth in 6:58.44, Smith II sixth in 7:09.08, and St. Lawrence II seventh in 7:18.59. Willamette was in fifth at the 1000-meter mark, but surged over the last 1000 meters, passing the Shorewomen and then catching Puget Sound II at the finish line to grab the final spot in the petite final. The petite qualifier raced under partly cloudy skies with substantial humidity and temperatures in the 70s.

Saturday's third-level final determined overall boat places 13th through 16th and was raced in 70-degree weather and with a substantial tail wind. The Shorewomen, who led throughout the race, posted a winning time of 6:59.52. Puget Sound II was second in 7:04.81, St. Lawrence II third in 7:12.50, and Smith II fourth in 7:14.55.

Junior Krista Jensen (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) was the Shorewomen's coxswain. Junior Ericka Malow (Brunswick, OH/Brunswick) sat stroke, junior Caroline Perry (Baltimore, MD/Notre Dame Prep) was in the seven seat, freshman Sarah Ruh (New Preston, CT/Kent School) was in the six seat, senior Jenna Lapointe (Newark, DE/Newark) sat in the five seat, sophomore Sarah Holland (Towson, MD/Notre Dame Prep) was in the four seat, freshman Kendall Mulligan (Southbury, CT/Westover School) sat in the three seat, sophomore Christine Lynch (Lincoln University, PA/Avon Grove) was in the two seat, and sophomore Catherine Black (Kimberton, PA/Academy of Notre Dame) was the bow. Senior Nicole Rousseau (Burlington, CT/Miss Porter's School) and junior Amy Smith (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) were the team's spares.

Williams I won the grand final to take the top spot in the boat standings, and Williams captured the NCAA Division III Championship with a total of 24 total points as Williams II took fifth in the grand final. Only schools competing for the team championship with two boats at the event were awarded points. As the two at-large eights, the Shorewomen and Willamette were not awarded points.

Final Boat Standings (Points Awarded)
1) Williams I (14)
2) Bates I (13)
3) Trinity I (12)
4) Ithaca I (11)
5) Williams II (10)
6) Puget Sound I (9)
7) Smith I (8)
8) St. Lawrence I (7)
9) Bates II (6)
10) Trinity II (5)
11) Willamette (--)
12) Ithaca II (4)
13) Washington College (--)
14) Puget Sound II (3)
15) St. Lawrence II (2)
16) Smith II (1)

Final Team Point Standings
1) Williams - 24
2) Bates - 19
3) Trinity - 17
4) Ithaca - 15
5) Puget Sound - 12
6) Smith - 9
7) St. Lawrence - 9