In another exciting day of post-season racing, Exeter’s girls’ eight took first place in the Women’s Junior Eight event at the Reading Amateur Regatta in Reading, England. The Regatta, founded in 1842, consists of dual-races along a 1500 meter stretch of the River Thames. Due to the limited number of lanes, the nine girls, Hannah Woodruff, Allison Courtin, Rory Erickson-Kulas, Katrina Regan, Lizzy McDermott, Erin Metcalf, Rebecca Kisner, Nancy McKinstry and Catherine McDermott, raced three times in one day as they progressed through the single-elimination bracket. In their first race, they beat Tabor Academy (of Marion, Massachusetts) by a half-length of open water. In the second round, the eight defeated Headington School (of Oxford, England) by over two lengths of open water. In the finals, the girls beat Molesey Boat Club (of Molesey, England) by over a length of open water. This victory also means that Exeter was awarded the Royal Military Academy Challenge Cup, pictured right.  Check out the videos section to see film of the eight in the semi and grand finals.

Exeter’s four, consisting of Andrea Nortey, Kate Morris, Anna Johnson, Catie Lucy, and Jess Flakne, raced well in the Senior 4+ (coxed straight four) event but lost by two lengths in their first race to Newcastle Univserity Rowing Club. Despite this loss, they performed exceptionally well considering the age difference between the two crews.

Godspeed girls as you train for the Henley Women’s Regatta next weekend.

In an exciting finish to the USRowing Youth National Championships, Exeter’s girls eight finished fourth nationwide, a very impressive feat. The times in today’s Grand Final race:

1. Long Beach Junior Crew – 7:08:16
2. Maritime Rowing Club – 7:11:53
3. St. Ignatius Crew – 7:13:11
4. Phillips Exeter Academy – 7:16:78
5. Everett Rowing Association – 7:18:20
6. St. Louis Rowing Club – 7:26:86

Congratulations to them on this tremendous achievement. More information coming soon.

In an exciting heat this afternoon, the nine Exeter girls competing at the USRowing Youth National Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio qualified for the Womens Youth 8+ Grand Finals. Down by over a length after the start, they pulled away from their fifth place position in the middle 1000 meters. After catching up with the field, they moved past St. Ignatius in the last third of the race. Exeter finished the 2000 meter course in 7:00:99, only 0.35 seconds behind first place Everett Rowing Association. St. Ignatius finished third, 1.27 seconds behind Exeter.  These first three finishers race and the top three from the other semifinal heat qualify for the grand final race, which will take place Sunday at 12:32 P.M. (EST). This race decides the fastest girls boat in the nation. The lane assignments for the final:

• Lane 2 – St. Ignatius Crew (school from Cleveland, Ohio)
• Lane 3 – Long Beach Junior Crew (club from Long Beach, California)
• Lane 4 – Everett Rowing Association (club from Everett, Washington)
• Lane 5 – Maritime Rowing Club (club from Norwalk, Connecticut)
• Lane 6 – Phillips Exeter Academy
• Lane 7 – St. Louis Rowing Club (club from St. Louis, Missouri)

Official race results will be posted here as soon as they are made available tomorrow.

Good luck girls! Show them what it means to be part of Exeter Crew.