Women’s Openweight Crew Wins New England Varsity Eight Championship

WORCESTER, Mass. -- The MIT women's openweight crew Varsity Eight outlasted Williams and Middlebury in the Women's Varsity Eight Grand Final to claim the New England Women's Varsity Eight Championship on Saturday at the New England Rowing Championships on Lake Quinsigamond. The day was also highlighted by MIT's second-place finish in varsity fours, as all three Engineer boats raced in grand finals.

VARSITY 8 (V8+):

Results: 1st of 6 (6:44.602) - GOLD
Lineup: C. Michelle Peng; 8. Kayla Robertson; 7. Lucy Greenup; 6. Emma Hopkins; 5. Brooke Birdsall; 4. Shriya Thakur; 3. Madeleine Laws; 2. Darin Wilkowski; 1. Elizabeth Jackson
MIT won the second of three morning heats to advance to the afternoon's Grand Final. The Engineers finished in 7:10.199 to win by about length ahead of runner-up Bates (7:12.749). In the Grand Final, it was back-and-forth for most of the race with eventual runner-up Williams before MIT found the advantage to win in 6:44.602. Williams was second in 6:46.132 and Middlebury was third in 6:47.710.

SECOND VARSITY 8 (2V8+):

Results: 5th of 6 (7:02.278)
Lineup: C. Kayla Liu; 8. Lana Ghamra; 7. Sofia Chastain; 6. Kristen DiConza; 5. Emma Cox; 4. Lia Donley; 3. Elizabeth Wright; 2. Ava Illingworth; 1. Angela Dong
MIT finished second of six boats in its opening heat, advancing to the Grand Final with a time of 7:09.129. Trinity won the morning heat in 7:04.351 while Smith was third in 7:13.903. MIT finished fifth in the Grand Final in 7:02.278. Tufts had the winning time in 6:52.126.

VARSITY 4 (V4+):

Results: 2nd of 6 (9:12.181) - SILVER
Lineup: C. Madeline Ryan; 4. Lucia Ayala; 3. Nina Navabi; 2. Zoe Awa; 1. Michelle Sotelo
MIT earned silver in 9:12.181. The Engineers were well back of gold medalist Amherst's time of 8:53.253 but had a six-second advantage on third-place Tufts 9:18.173.

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