Lightweight V8 Claim Silver at Eastern Sprints
May 3, 2015 | Women's Lightweight Rowing
RESULTS
Camden, N.J. - The Boston University women's openweight and lightweight rowing teams raced against the top teams on the East Coast at the Eastern Sprints in Camden, N.J. on Sunday. The competition was highlighted by a silver medal performance by the BU lightweight varsity eight boat and a gold medal performance by the lightweight second varsity eight. The BU openweights advance both their 4A and 4B boats to the grand finals, where they finished sixth and fifth respectively.
The lightweight varsity eight boat, coxed by junior Rachel Cohn and stroked by senior Carol Chase Peterson, finished second in the final with a time of 6:39.18 to win the silver. The Terriers were less than three seconds behind winner Harvard (6:36.26) and ahead of Princeton (6:43.860), Wisconsin (6:50.91) and Georgetown (7:00.88).
The lightweight second varsity eight boat, coxed by junior Allison Triola and stroked by sophomore Mariah Ippolito, took home the gold to remain undefeated against 2V lightweights on the year. The 2V finished with a very impressive time of 06:42.89, ahead of Harvard (6:47.44), Wisconsin (6:50.84) and Princeton (6:59.73). The Eastern Sprints gold medal was the second consecutive for the BU 2V8.
Overall, the lightweights finished in fourth place in team points with 39.8. Harvard won the Ulbrich Trophy as overall Regatta Champion with 54.3 points followed by Wisconsin (47.7) and Princeton (40.7). 
"I'm so proud of the effort of the 1V," said lightweight rowing head coach Malcolm Doldron. "It was a strong race, although not the best technical row we've had. This is a new lineup we put together that has yet to really gel, but they fought hard against an amazingly talented group from Radcliffe and a pretty feisty crew from Princeton."
"The 2V dominated the race from start to finish to win by open water," Doldron added. "It's awesome to have them repeat as Eastern Sprints champs. It's a clear statement about our team depth."
The varsity openweight competition opened with heat racing in the morning, with boats needing to finish in the top two in their respective races to advance to the Grand Final. In a tough heat race, BU went up against No. 14 Harvard, Dartmouth, MIT and West Virginia. The Terriers, coxed by senior Eline Vermeulen and stroked by senior Cydney Marks-Nicholes, finished with a time of 6:56.96, ahead of MIT and West Virginia but behind race winner Harvard (6:36.01) and second-place finisher Dartmouth (6:47.30). The BU 1V moved on to the Petite Final where it finished in third with a time of 6:45.28.
The BU openweights excelled in fours competition as both their 4A and 4B advanced to the Grand Finals. The 4A, coxed by sophomore Emily Avrick and stroked by junior Jo MacCune, won its morning heat race over BC, Buffalo and Georgetown to advance to the Grand Final. In the finals, the Terriers placed sixth.
The 4B, coxed by freshman Jessica Grossman and stroked by classmate Gemma Junkinsmith, finished third in its heat race, ahead of Rutgers to advance to the Grand Finals where it defeated Boston College and finished fifth overall.
The Terriers second varsity eight boat, coxed by sophomore Marlaina Miller and stroked by freshman Suzanne Greenwood, finished third in its morning heat race to move on to the Petite Final where it placed third, ahead of crews from Rutgers, MIT, Buffalo and Holy Cross.
The BU third varsity eight, coxed by freshman Shontelle Sanchez and stroked by classmate Bronte Escobar, finished fourth in its heat race ahead of Holy Cross and West Virginia and moved on to the Petite Final which it won with a time of 7:26.16. The BU 3V8 finished ahead of crews from West Virginia, Holy Cross, Rutgers and Holy Cross.
"The team performed close to its potential in today's races," said director of women's rowing Stacey Rippetoe. "We were happy to get good information today on what we'll need to sharpen up heading into our conference championship."
In team points, BU finished in 7th place with 61 points in the field of 12 ahead of Georgetown, Holy Cross, West Virginia, Rutgers, MIT and Buffalo. Harvard won the Willing Trophy as overall Regatta Champion with 136 points.
The BU openweights will next compete back in Camden, N.J. at the Patriot League Championships on May 15. The Terriers will look for their third-straight conference championship crown and third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships in Sacramento on May 29.
The BU lightweight will prepare for the IRA National Championship Regatta in West Windsor, N.J. on May 29.
LINEUPS
Openweights
V8
2V8
V4A
2 Sam Woo
V4B
V4C
B Nicole Wheatman
3 Ally Bachinsky
3V8
3 Gabby Himel
Lightweights
V8
2V8
5 Shelby Saunders
V4
