GAINESVILLE, Ga. – No. 5 Wellesley College crew came in sixth place in both Grand Finals to finish sixth overall at the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships at Lake Lanier Olympic Park. Due to expected storms tomorrow, the entire event, including both prelims and finals, took place on one day this year.

Tufts University netted its third straight title, winning both races for a total of 56 points. Bates College was the runner-up with 46 points and William Smith College took bronze with 44 points. Trinity College (43), Williams College (42), the Blue (31), University of Puget Sound (26) and Catholic University (21) rounded out the eight-team field.

Blue Crew's Varsity Eight boat scored bronze in its initial race, hitting the finish line at 6:47.018. The squad moved on to the Grand Final alongside Bates College and Trinity College.

In the Grand Final, Wellesley completed the 2k event at 6:40.216, with three seconds of fifth place Williams College. 

The Second Varsity Eight boat took third in the opening heat with a time of 7:03.802. The Blue, along with winning Trinity and second place Williams College, moved on to the afternoon's Grand Final.

The afternoon's Grand Final saw Wellesley come in sixth place in the Grand Final, putting up a 6:51.714 mark. Blue Crew and Bates went back and forth for the fifth spot, with the Bobcats edging out the Blue by just over a second.

Wellesley lineups (5/29/26):

V8+ : C - Mia Saracino; 8 - Bronnie Bailey; 7 - Hannah Bates; 6 - Allegra Basanese; 5 - Mia Westmoreland; 4 - Sarah Fu; 3 - Marina West; 2 - Lucy Weil; 1 - Mia Kim

2V8+ : C - Sophia Lutch; 8 - Aliki Hollister; 7 - Rachel Hu; 6 - Bella Cooper; 5 - Ellie Walsh; 4 - Isha Bajwa;  3 - Jude Mohammad; 2 - Caroline Hester; 1 - Samantha Whitson