Hamilton College finished first in four races, including the varsity eights, against Stetson University and Tufts University on Lake Beresford in DeLand, Fla., on March 23.
Hamilton is ranked 11th in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing preseason poll. All races were 2,000 meters in length. Temperatures were in the 70s with a light tailwind after a brief shower.
Hamilton’s varsity eight completed the course in 7 minutes, 41 seconds, which was almost 40 seconds faster than runner-up Tufts. The boat consisted of coxswain Kelsey Burke '13, Keara Fenzel '14 at the stroke seat and Rachel Johnson '13 in the bow. The remaining members of the boat included (seats seven through two in descending order): Karly Moore '15, Magaret Hylas '15, Caroline Walton '15, Helen Higgins '13, Jess Pedersen '15 and Erin Gerrity '15.
Hamilton took first place in the second varsity eight by four seconds with a time of 8:02. Heather Piekarz '16 served as coxswain, while Hideko Nara '15 was at the stroke seat and Meredith Garner '15 was in the bow. Seats seven through two in descending order included: Fiona Hoffman-Harland '13, Emma Zanazzi '15, Annie Lindahl '15, Grace Bowers '15, Ally Kontra '15 and Rachel Landman '15.
Hamilton swept the novice eight races, topping Stetson by more than 20 seconds in each. Hamilton's time was 8:29 in the first race. Amy Song '16 was coxswain, Jess Sofen '16 was at the stroke seat and Mollie Major '14 was in the bow. The rest of the boat included (seats seven through two in descending order): Nina Byers '16, Julia Coash '16, Keara Lynn '16, Taylor Healy '15, Rachel Feuerstein '16 and Katie Schramm '16.
In the second race, Hamilton completed the course in 8:33. The coxswain was Lia Parker-Belfer '16 with Sofen at the stroke seat and Major in the bow seat. Seats seven through four were the same as the first race, and Laura Rivera '16 and Margaret Smith '15 were 3-seat and 2-seat, respectively.
Hamilton’s varsity four came in second place with a time of 8:47, which was seven seconds behind Tufts. Sydney Cantor '16 served as coxswain, Hylas was at the stroke seat and Moore was in the bow. Walton rowed in the 3-seat and Higgins was in the 2-seat.
Hamilton travels to Union College to row for the Gilman Plate & Cup on Saturday, April 6.
