October 19, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Crew Races at Head of the Charles

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers raced in the 45th annual Head of the Charles in the Collegiate Eight event in rainy, windy, cold, and miserable conditions on Sunday in Cambridge and had a great race!

The crew, comprised of coxswain Maurine Collins (Northampton, MA), Katherine von Herrmann (Piedmont, CA), Margaret Woodman-Russell (Ipswich, MA), Gabriela Kubik (White Bear Lake, MN), Chelsea Andrews (Norwich, CT), Danielle Shelton (Waukesha, WI), Elaine Machietto (Southwick, MA), Maria-Fatima Santos (Suffield, CT) and Catherine Davie (Little Rock, AR), finished 16th out of 35 crews.  Their top half finish guaranteed the team an entry in next years race.  Grand Valley State University won the race in 17:47 followed by two boats from Williams College.  The Pioneers, who were aggressive on the course and made a decisive move past Wesleyan coming into the Elliott Bridge, finished the race in 19:07.  Coach Karen Klinger was pleased with her team's race as it was the first time that the lineup had rowed in that configuartion. 

Coach Klinger also raced over the weekend in the Senior Masters Eight. She, however, had beautiful conditions on Saturday. Her crew, made up of 1980 Olympic team members and "permanent subs", started out in first place and held off the pack for most of the race, but finished third behind Etats Unis Rowing Club and Marin Rowing Association.

The Pioneers, who were faster than any other Seven Sisters competitor in the Collegiate Eight race, will race in at Wellesley College  on Saturday, October 24 in the Seven Sisters Championship.