READING, England – Three crews from the Boston University lightweight rowing program reached the quarterfinal rounds in the 2024 Henley Women's Regatta, held this past weekend (June 21-23) on the river Thames in the United Kingdom.
 
Making its first appearance in the famed regatta as a team, the Terriers sent five crews across the pond to compete in the three-day competition. All five crews advanced through their respective time trials in the first two days to compete in dual races.
 
BU's Aspirational Academic 4- made the farthest journey in its entry, advancing to the semifinal. After advancing through its time trial, the Terriers, stroked by Nina Palmer, lined up against Imperial College's "A" crew in its heat on Friday (June 21). BU crossed the finish in 5:50.9, nearly three lengths ahead of its foe, to reach the quarterfinal on Sunday (June 23).
 
Squaring off against GSR Aegir from the Netherlands in the quarterfinal, BU overcame steering challenges from the drop and improved on its previous time by over 20 seconds, winning in a time of 5:30.3 that was four lengths ahead of its opponent.
 
Against Durham University in the semifinal, the Terriers once again faced steering challenges in the opening minute, and fell behind by one-half length of open water against their foe. BU corrected in the middle portion of the race, but fell to Durham by one-and-a-half lengths. Durham would go on to win the event and capture the Cathy Cruickshank Trophy.
 
In the Aspirational Academic 8+, the Terriers, coxed by Heather Shinn and stroked by Maecy Rickman, advanced through their time trial to battle the ASR Nereus "A" crew from the Netherlands in their heat.
 
BU moved on to face U.S.R. Triton from the Netherlands in the quarterfinal. The Terriers sported a five-seat lead midway through the course. However, Triton's strong push in the final 500 meters overcame BU's pace in the final moments as Triton's one-half length lead in 5:02.5 eliminated the Terriers.
 
Sophomore Ela Ersan represented the Terriers in the Championship Lightweight single sculls. She qualified after her time trial to line up against Lea RC's Burley. Ersan cruised to a first-place finish in the heat with a time of 6:27.7 to advance to the quarterfinal against Durham University's Rijkse.
 
In the Championship Lightweight single sculls, Terrier alumna Riona McCormick (CAS'20) won the Godfrey Rowsports Trophy in the event, winning the final in 6:01.7 while she represented the Schuylkill Navy in Philadelphia, Pa.
 
In that race, Ersan built an early lead off the drop. However, Rijkse gradually gained two lengths of open water to finish in 6:19.3, closing out Ersan's time in the regatta.
 
BU's IRA national champion double in Kylie Lough and Caroline Burchette took part in the Championship Lightweight double sculls. They qualified from their time trials to become one of eight entries competing for the Haslam Trophy. In their first race, serving as the quarterfinal, they squared off against the "A" crew from Dart Totnes ARC. With a time of 5:50.0 and a two-and-a-half length lead on BU, Dart Totnes ARC advanced and later went to on win the Haslam Trophy.
 
Junior Savanna Jacovini competed in the Championship single sculls for BU. Qualifying through the time trial, she battled Tideway Scullers School's Peake in the opening heat. Peake went on to finish two-and-a-half lengths ahead.
 
RESULTS
Aspirational Academic 8+ - Colgan Foundation Cup

• Time Trial: Qualified
• Heat: vs. ASR Nereus "A" (NED)
  • 1st – 5:05.6, one length lead
• Quarterfinal: vs. U.S.R. Trition (NED)
  • 2nd – one-half length behind 

Aspirational Academic 4- - Cathy Cruickshank Trophy

• Time Trial: Qualified
• Heat: vs. Imperial College "A"
  • 1st – 5:50.9, three lengths lead
• Quarterfinal: vs. GSR Aegir (NED)
  • 1st – 5:30.3, four lengths lead
• Semifinal: vs. Durham Univ.
  • 2nd – one-and-a-half lengths behind

Championship Lightweight 2x – Haslam Trophy

• Time Trial: Qualified
• Quarterfinal: vs. Dart Totnes ARC "A"
  • 2nd – two-and-a-half lengths behind

Championship 1x – George Innes Cup

• Time Trial: Qualified
• Heat: vs. Tideway Scullers School
  • 2nd – two-and-a-half lengths behind

Championship Lightweight 1x – Godfrey Rowsports Trophy

• Time Trial: Qualified
• Heat: vs. Lea RC
  • 1st – 6:27.7, handily
• Quarterfinal: vs. Durham Univ.
  • 2nd – two-lengths behind

LINEUPS
Aspirational Academic 8+
Cox: Heather Shinn
Stroke: Maecy Rickman
7: Mia Seibert
6: Zoey Goodness
5: Lulu Smith
4: Natalie Erb
3: Alanna Hoffman
2: Charlotte Duan
Bow: Hannah Clark
 
Championship Lightweight 1x
Ela Ersan

Championship 1x
Savanna Jacovini

Aspirational Academic 4-
Bow: Carly Milosevic
2: Cece Mason
3: Maya Popper
Stroke: Nina Palmer

Championship Lightweight 2x
Stroke: Caroline Burchette
Bow: Kylie Lough