CHESTERTOWN, Md. -- Wellesley College crew capped the team's annual spring break training trip with a dominant performance at the Washington College Invitational. The Blue took first in the Varsity Eight (V8) Grand Final and finished with three of the top-four boats in the Second Varsity Eight (2V8) Grand Final after winning multiple morning heats in the team's first competition since October's Seven Sisters Championship.
Despite winning both the V8 and 2V8 grand Finals, the Blue finished second in the overall Points Trophy standings with 113 points. The host Shorewomen finished with 114 points to win the points trophy, as teams with multiple entries in one event only received points for the first entry. Saint Joseph's was third with 111 points, with St. Mary's (80) taking fourth, Bryn Mawr (74) fifth, Franklin & Marshall (65) sixth, and Cabrini (49) finishing seventh.
The Blue, ranked No. 8 in the latest CRCA Division III Coaches Poll, swept through the morning heats to advance all four of the team's boats to the afternoon's Grand Finals. The Wellesley V8 finished in 6:43.09, over 12 seconds ahead of the host Shorewomen (6:55.15) in second place, to advance to the V8 Grand Final. Wellesley was also victorious in each of the 2V8 heats, earning the top to spots in heat one and the top spot in heat two. The Wellesley Third Varsity Eight (3V8) edged the 2V8 in the first heat, finishing first in 6:33.22. The 2V8 took second in 6:35.24, as the Blue swept the top spots in the four boat heat. In the second heat, the Fourth Varsity Eight (4V8) finished with a time of 6:28.0 to top Washington College (6:29.91) by just under two seconds.
After sweeping throught the morning heats, the Blue took first in both of the afternoon's Grand Finals. In the V8 Grand Final, the Blue V8 posted the fastest time of the day, taking first in 5:54.53. Washington College (6:15.28) was the runner-up, followed by St. Joseph's B (6:21.30) and St. Joseph's A (6:24.86). The Blue went on to take three of the top spots in the 2V8 Grand Final, with the 3V8 finishing first in 6:15.74, followed by the 2V8 in second (6:18.87). Washington College was third (6:21.16) with the Wellesley 4V8 in fourth (6:38.14).
Next up, Wellesley will travel to Hellstrom Boathouse on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal in Geneva, N.Y. to take on host at No. 13 Williams Smith and No. 2 Williams on on Saturday, April 6.
Wellesley Lineups (3/30/19):
