Links: River Hawk Challenge Results
LOWELL, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's rowing program competed in the River Hawk Challenge on Saturday, racing in a Varsity Fours event featuring crews from Middlebury College, Bowdoin University and the University of Maine. Merrimack's fours boat posted a time of 7:12.8, finishing third in its heat and besting the Black Bears by a full minute.
An exciting day for the program also featured the christening of its newest boats as the program saw various alumna attended the race in addition to the 2019 squad. Merrimack's newest eight oared shell was named the "Gibson", in honor of Director of Athletics
Jeremy Gibson. The Warriors also added two pair oared shells to its fleet, recognizing two of the most memorable moments in program history. One of boat was dedicated "2015 NERC Champions" in honor of Merrimack's varsity fours title four years ago at the New England Rowing Championships. The other was dedicated "2016 Henley Crew" in honor of the Warriors' historic participation in the 2016 Henley Women's Regatta.
The Basics
Event: River Hawk Challenge
Location: Lowell, Mass. | Merrimack River
Merrimack Lineup (Women's Varsity Four):
Cox: Claire Foley
Stroke: Audrey Regan
3: Kylie Bell
2: Suzanne Fuller
Bow: Emily Crowe
Results (Women's Varsity Four – Heat 1)
1.) Middlebury – 6:55.2
2.) Bowdoin – 7:00.94
3.) Merrimack – 7:12.8
4.) Maine – 8:14.2
Rapid Recap
- Battling difficult conditions that included rain and high winds, the Warriors finished third in their best-of-four heat that sent the top-two finishing boats to the day's final. The event marked the program's third fours event this spring
- The dedication of Merrimack's newest boats highlighted the day. The pair oared shell "2015 NERC Champions" recognizes Merrimack's 2015 spring season that saw the Warriors earn a national ranking for the first time in program history, and claim the trophy at the New England Rowing Championships in the varsity four event
- Former Warriors (pictured below) Lauren Blazon, Lydia Staschke, Aubrey O'Neill and Tasha Wypych posed with the "2016 Henley Crew" boat named in their honor. The Warriors went across the pond and raced in the renown Henley Women's Regatta three summers ago
Up Next
The Warriors will head out to Worcester for their first of two straight races on Lake Quinsigamond when Merrimack competes in the NE10 Challenge next Saturday.
