UPDATE: (10:36AM) The other three boats in Exeter’s 3:00PM semifinal heat are Newport Aquatic Center, Green Lake Crew, and Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club in addition to St. Ignatius Crew and Everett Rowing Association.

Despite heavy thunderstorms resulting in a four-hour delay, Exeter’s first girls varsity eight rowed extremely well in their first heat at the USRowing Youth National Championship regatta. Maritime Rowing Club (a club from Norwalk, Connecticut) beat them by 3.43 seconds, racing 06:30:99 over Exeter’s 06:34:42 over the 2000 meter course. Both of these times were faster than the times of any other boats in any of the three heats. Well done!

This second-place finish secures their slot in the semifinals tomorrow, which (weather permitting) will take place at 3:00 P.M. (EST). Results will be posted here very soon after this heat. St. Ignatius Crew (a high-school from Cleveland, Ohio) and Everett Rowing Association (a club from Everett, Washington) are two of the five opponents in tomorrow’s semifinal heat. The other three boats will qualify tomorrow morning in the repechage races at 9:50 and 9:57 A.M. The top three boats from these two semifinal heats will race the grand final on Sunday at 12:32 P.M.

Good work girls, and get a well-deserved good night’s sleep!