The nationally ranked No. 2 Hamilton College Continentals finished second in the varsity eight race at the 2021 NESCAC Women's Rowing Championship on the Malden River in Medford, Mass., on Saturday.

The runner-up finish in the varsity eight is the best in team history at the NESCAC championship. No. 1 Bates College defeated Hamilton in the varsity eight grand final early Saturday evening and earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Division III Rowing Championship. The selections for the championship will be announced at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11.

"The team was back in familiar waters having raced at Tufts University's home race course only three weeks ago," Head Coach James Lister said. "We raced having gained a lot of speed from our recent races as well as the competitive practices on our home waters.

"The 1v advanced from a solid performance against Colby in the first round. In the finals we raced against Bates, which had posted the fastest time from the first round. We closed the margin since the last time we raced Bates three weeks ago on the same course. We know there is more speed to be created and we hope we get to race again at NCAAs. As has been our goal every day, keep finding ways to get faster."

The Continentals' second varsity eight had even more success than Hamilton's varsity eight as they defeated Colby College by 22 seconds in one of the two heats and edged Bates by 3.2 seconds in the grand final. The Continentals' second varsity eight is ranked No. 1 in the New York Region by the NCAA.

"The 2v advanced as well from the first round with Colby," Lister added. "They faced Bates in the finals after winning against them earlier in the season. They had a great start and held that margin the remainder of the race. The 2v is Hamilton's first NESCAC champion in the event."

Racing conditions on the 2,000-meter course included a variable 8-to-12 mile per hour wind out of the northeast, generally with a cross-headwind that diminished throughout the day.

RESULTS

Heat 1 2V8
Bates: 7:11
Williams: 7:18

Heat 2 2V8
Hamilton 7:13.1
Colby 7:35.1

Heat 1 V8
Bates: 6:45.9
Williams: 6:57.0

Heat 2 V8
Hamilton: 7:13.9
Colby: 7:32

Petite Final 2V8
Williams 7:13.3
Colby 7:28.8

Grand Final 2V8
Hamilton 7:04.0
Bates 7:07.2

Petite Final V8
Williams 6:56.0
Colby 7:02.18

Grand Final V8
Bates 6:49.1
Hamilton 6:56.94

LINEUPS

Varsity 8+
Carson Goos '21 (cox)
Emily Norum '22
Pauline Santry '21
Perrin Salewood '21
Kara Mathes '22
Elizabeth Kantrowitz '23
Sarah Sandison '23
Celine Yam '21
Katherine Buckley '21
 
2nd Varsity 8+
Michaela Murdock '22 (cox)
Ali Joseph '24
Jenna McCarthy '23
Sarah Scheuritzel '22
Jane Fanning '22
Aisling Mockler '24
Maggie Looney '23
Rylie Mutton '23
Katy Shepard '22