Coach Doldron Interview | Results

WORCESTER, Mass. - The No. 2 Boston University women's lightweight rowing team defeated crews from Harvard, Princeton, Wisconsin and Georgetown to capture the 42nd annual Eastern Sprints Championship on Sunday. The title was the first Sprints championship for the lightweight rowing program in just its fourth year of existence.

"Winning the points trophy at the Eastern Sprints was the major goal for our program all year since September," said head women's lightweight rowing coach Malcolm Doldron. "All our boats had to race to their potential. It took everybody and we are really excited about being Eastern Sprints Champions."

Going into the final race of the day, the Terriers needed a victory from their V8 boat to win the Sprints championship after finishing 3rd in the third varsity eight race and 2nd in the second varsity eight race.

The Terriers' varsity eight boat, coxed by senior Rachel Cohn and stroked by freshman Janice Hagerman, came through in a big way. The V8 took command from the start, opening up a half-length lead over Harvard in the first 500 meters and extended it to a full length at the halfway point. The Terriers' V8 was never seriously challenged the rest of the way and cruised to victory with a time of 7:04.6, well ahead of second-place Harvard (7:08.0) and third-place Wisconsin (7:14.64).

With the victory in the varsity eight race, BU was able to earn 23 team points to finish just ahead of Wisconsin (second) and Radcliffe (third) to win the Konrad Ulbrich Lightweight Points Trophy as overall Eastern Sprints Champion. BU finished with 48.1 points to Wisconsin's 47.8 points, winning the team championship by a mere 0.3 points.
Earlier in the afternoon, the second varsity eight boat, coxed by senior Allison Triola and stroked by junior Mariah Ippolito, finished second to Wisconsin. The Badgers' 2V opened up an early lead and never relinquished it, finishing with a time of 7:22.08. BU was second with a time of 7:26.81 after battling with Harvard for most the race as the Crimson finished third (7:35.31).

In their first race of the day, the third varsity eight boat, coxed by freshman Taylor Alix and stroked by senior Rachel Underhill, finished third in their 3-boat grand final. Wisconsin finished first with a time of 7:32.58, with Harvard second (7:40.88).

The Terriers will now be off until June 3rd when they compete in the three-day IRA National Championship Regatta in Mercer, N.J.

Konrad Ulbrich Lightweight Points Trophy Final Standings

Boston University - 48.1
Wisconsin - 47.8
Harvard - 46.0
Princeton - 24.8
Georgetown - 13