Virginia Rowers Finish Fourth In Championship Eight Event At Head Of The Charles Regatta

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The University of Virginia women’s rowing team placed fourth in the championship eight competition and seventh in the championship four event at the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday (Oct. 23). The regatta was held on the Charles River.

The US Rowing Princeton Training Center crew won the championship eight event with a time of 15:36.733. The London Training Center placed second (15:54.637), followed by Princeton University in third (16:13.109) and Virginia in fourth (16:15.138). Forty-six crews competed in the race.

The championship eight crew included Michelle Ellison (coxswain), Jenny Cromwell, Kerry Maher, Renee Albers, Heather Gardner, Lauren Hutchins, Libby McCann, Chrissie Monaghan, and Melanie Kok.

“Our championship eight did a really nice job,” head coach Kevin Sauer said. “They really turned it on in the second half of the race. We closed in on Princeton, the defending national champion, and we ended up ahead of Yale. I thought it was a really good effort.”

In the championship four competition, the University of British Columbia finished first with a time of 17:58.204. The London Training Center came in second (17:59.401), the University of Victoria finished third (18:18.938), and the New York Athletic Club placed fourth (18:22.745). Virginia finished seventh with a time of 18:32.469. Twenty-one crews raced in the competition.

Mary Eddy (coxswain), Yvonne Epp, Desiree Burns, Becky Ryall, and Katrin Sydlik manned the championship four boat.

“I was really pleased very our performances today,” Sauer added.

The next regatta for the UVa women’s rowing team is scheduled for October 29 when Virginia travels to Princeton, N.J., to race in the Princeton Chase on Lake Carnegie.