WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Wellesley College crew team capped its 2013-14 regular season with a solid showing at the ECAC National Invitational Regatta today at Worcester's Lake Quinsigamond.
Wellesley entered three boats into today's competition with both varsity boats qualifying to the grand finals. The Blue's novice entry qualified to the petite final. In addition to the team accolades, Wellesley senior Ildi Gaal was named to the All-ECAC team. Gaal is the five seat on the second varsity eight boat.
In the morning heats, the Blue started the day with a fifth place finish (7:41.507) out of the novice eight, qualifying the boat to the petite finals. Wellesley's second varsity eight followed with a second place finish in their heat. The Blue recorded a time of 7:09.868, behind only Bates (6:56.061), to qualify for the grand finals.
In the final heat race of the morning, Wellesley's varsity eight boat also finished second, earning a spot in the grand finals. The Blue (6:52.406) were a close second behind Bates (6:48.017) in the race.
Later in the afternoon, Wellesley's novice boat recorded a third place finish in the petite final, ranking the crew ninth overall. The Blue recorded a time of 8:14.202, finishing behind St. Lawrence and Conn. College, and ahead of Smith, Clark, and Tufts.
Wellesley recorded top-five overall in both varsity grand finals. In first varsity action, the Blue clocked in at 7:02.894, behind Bates, Williams, and Trinity, while surpassing Wesleyan and Washington College. In the second varsity grand final, the Blue finished in 7:26.942, behind Bates, Trinity, Wesleyan, and Williams. Wellesley surpassed William Smith in the race.
Despite entering only three boats (out of a possible six), Wellesley finished seventh out of 21 teams in the final point standings, ranking first out of any NEWMAC school.
The Blue will now await selections to the 2014 NCAA Division III Rowing Championships. Wellesley is looking for its fifth-straight bid to the event. Selections will be announced on Monday at 7:00pm live on ncaa.com.
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