Cape Cod, Mass. -- The ECAC congratulates Hobart Colleges Mens Varsity Eight, Smith Colleges Womens Varsity Eight, and Northeastern Universitys Womens Varsity Eight, and recognizes these three outstanding crews as the ECAC Crews of the Week for the week ending April 19. The Womens Varsity Eights from Smith and Northeastern become the first crews from their respective institutions to be so recognized this racing season. Meanwhile, Hobart boasts an ECAC Crew of the Week for the second time this spring, and second in as many weeks (Hobarts Freshman Eight earned Crew of the Week honors on April 13). Hobarts and Smiths crews share the title of ECAC NIR Crew of the Week, while Northeasterns Womens V8 earns the award for the strongest performance by an EAWRC crew. The award, which is not restricted to Varsity boats or to Eights, was captured by three such boats for the first time since May 6, 2003.
Hobart Varsity Mens Eight
The 20th-ranked Hobart College Varsity Eight continued its outstanding spring season with a convincing victory over Division I Colgate this past weekend. The win earned Hobart its second consecutive Seneca Cup, and fourth in the past five years. After having to wait nearly two hours for the fog to clear on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, the Statesmen got off to a good start and turned in a great final 500 meters, finishing the course in 6:33.66, nearly nine seconds ahead of the Raiders. In the boat for Hobart were sophomore coxswain Dan Gilbert, senior Havilland Campbell, sophomore Gardner Loring, first-year Michael Grenier, sophomore Timothy Faxon, sophomore Gavin Johnstone-Butcher, first-year Sep Levatich, sophomore JM Chadonic, and junior Michael Hoepp. After four races this spring, the Statesmen are unbeaten and are the lone Division III program in the US Rowing poll.
Northeastern Varsity Womens Eight
The Northeastern Womens Varsity Eight won a hard-fought battle over Columbia and Navy this week. The three crews were very close for the first 500 meters, when Columbia started to edge out on the other two. As they passed the 1000m mark, Columbia held a 5 to 6-seat advantage over Northeastern, with Navy about a length back. The two leading crews traded moves in the third 500, and crossed the 1500m mark with Columbia still leading by 6 seats. The Northeastern Varsity raised its rate to 37 with 500m to go and started to move. Northeastern moved to within 2-3 seats before Columbia matched the sprint and once again the two crews were locked in battle. With just 15 strokes to go, Northeastern found yet another gear and started to move again. When the two boats reached the finish line, Northeasterns advantage was a mere 1/2 deck. The times were Northeastern 6:49.4, Columbia 6:49.6 and Navy 6:56.5.
Smith College Varsity Womens Eight
Smith Colleges Women's Varsity Eight captured the NEWMAC Championship on Lake Quinsigamond on Saturday, April 17, with a time of 7:29.24, racing into a slight head wind and light chop. Smiths Eight finished nine seconds ahead of the second placed crew, and finished ahead of, in order, WPI, Coast Guard, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, and Clark. The crew of Liz Godshall 05, Kristina Latta-Landefeld 07, Anna Crary 04, Katherine Seston 05, Mary Kennedy 05, Leigh Eubank 06, Elizabeth Higgins 06, Elizabeth Neibur 05 and Stephanie Smith 05 got a clean start, edged in front and pushed to a lead of a length by 900 meters. They stayed strong, holding all moves by their opponents and continued to extend their lead right through to the finish line.