Hamilton College dominated the women's second varsity eight field in the Jennifer McLaughlin Cup hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Clark University on Lake Quinsigamond on Saturday morning.
 
Hamilton finished first in its three-boat heat with a time of 6:57.8 and won the grand final by more than nine seconds over Smith College with a time of 7:31.1. Racing conditions included a gusty cross/tailwind at 15 mph, and general chop that turned to very choppy water in the second 1,000 meters.
 
In Hamilton's heat as well as the third varsity eight between Hamilton and Clark, the crews were unable to lock onto the stakeboats, so there was a floating start approximately 50 meters onto the course. Hamilton defeated Clark in the third varsity eight by nearly 50 seconds with a time of 7:43.8.
 
"Good to see early-season racing on Lake Quinsigamond with many teams that we have not raced in a couple of years," Head Coach James Lister said. "All our boats showed moments of good boat speed and handled the high wind conditions pretty well. The men's V8, women's 2V8, and women's 3V8 won their respective races. We return to Worcester on Sunday to see another strong fleet of teams."
 
Hamilton's varsity eight finished second to Clark in its three-boat heat and advanced to the grand final with a time of 7:24.52. In the final race of the day at noon, Hamilton finished fourth with a time of 7:08.13. WPI took first place (6:55.88) followed by Wesleyan University (6:58.55) and Clark (7:01.45).
 
Hamilton competes in the WPI Regatta back on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass., on Sunday, April 10. Racing starts at 9 a.m.
 
LINEUPS
 
Varsity 8
Michaela Murdock '22 (cox)
Emily Norum '22
Maggie Looney '23
Ali Joseph '24
Kara Mathes '22
Elizabeth Kantrowitz '23
Caroline Chapman '25
Ella Lepine '25
Katy Shepard '22
 
Second Varsity 8
Lainey Groll '25 (cox)
Brynn O'Connor '23
Pippi Seider '24
Faith Hollyer '25
Violet Cue '25
Ellis Strutton '23
Ally Marenco '22
Emily Borden '24
Rylie Mutton '23
 
Third Varsity 8
Erin Stevens '24 (cox)
Samantha Trombone '25
Becca Perry '25
Elizabeth Atherton '22
Ally Berkowitz '25
Annika Benn '25
Emma Krupp '24
Alexandra Kropaneva '25
Alida Deutsch '23