October 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shannon Houlihan
(724) 288-6347
Crew places fourth at Seven Sisters
Boston, MA: A second place finish in the Varsity race by the Smith varsity eight led the Pioneers to a fourth place finish in the Seven Sisters Championship Regatta. Wellesley won the regatta with 22 points in a tiebreak over Mt Holyoke in second, also with 22 points. Simmons took third with 20 points, just ahead of Smith's 19 points. Bryn Mawr took fifth with 1 point.
The course covered the final 2.5 miles of the Head of the Charles course, winding through five bridges and around turns that taxed all of the coxswains steering skills and left a few crews turning wide or accidentally cutting buoys. Despite a wet and rainy day, a multitude of fans from all of the schools turned out on the bridges and banks of the river to cheer the athletes on .
The second novice race started the day's program, with Wellesley taking first, followed by Mount Holyoke, Simmons, and Smith in fourth. The novice eight race played out similarly, with the order of finish Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Simmons, Smith, and Bryn Mawr. Though a few "crabs" marred the performance, the Pioneer novices came off the water excited about getting to race on the prestigous Charles River.
The second varsity race was closely contested, as the top four crews were separated by only four seconds. Smith and Mount Holyoke tied for first place, with each crew finishing in 16:22. Simmons took third in 16:23 while Wellesley finished fourth in 16:26. Bryn Mawr took fifth, with Mount Holyoke's third varsity eight in sixth and Smith's 3V in seventh, with a time of 17:21.
The final event of the day was the varsity eight race, with Simmons bringing home first place in 15:27. Smith was just behind to earn second place in 15:32. Wellesley's third place finish gave them the tiebreak edge in the overall standings over Mount Holyoke, who, despite having the second fastest time, took fourth place due to several buoy violations.
Smith's Maurine Collins (Northampton, MA) was named to the 2009 All-Seven Sisters Team for her efforts as coxswain for the varsity eight.
2009 All-Sven Sisters Team
Wellesley- Gabby Wakeman, Holly Jones, Kate Spelman
Mount Holyoke- Jessica Suhowatsky, Caitlin Parsley
Simmons- Amanda Taylor, Caitlin Britton
Smith- Maurine Collins
Bryn Mawr- Eileen Downs
