SARATOGA, NY – Both the University of Rochester 1st varsity 8+ and 2nd varsity 8+ boats reached the grand finals, competing at the Liberty League Rowing Championships on Friday morning along Fish Creek.
 
During the opening heats, both boats finished third in their races, guaranteeing their spots in the grand finals. Later on in the day's racing, Rochester's 1V boat placed fifth overall in the premier race of the day, while the 2V entry wrapped up the competition in third.
 
UR's 1st varsity 8+ rowed the course in the early heats in 7:23.54, finishing behind Ithaca and RIT, while beating fourth place Union by over seven seconds.
 
In the grand final, Rochester posted a similar time, crossing the finish in 7:27.34, ranking fifth of six in the race. Ithaca claimed the title, followed by RIT, William Smith and Skidmore. Overall, eight schools competed in the varsity eight competition.
 
Rochester's 2nd varsity eight boat rowed to a time of 7:46.62 in the heats, ranking third of four. Ithaca again won their heat, following by Skidmore, with St. Lawrence's entry placing fourth.
 
To close the day's action, UR's 2V improved its time in the grand final, clocking in with a finishing time of 7:40.14, shaving over six seconds off its heat time. The Yellowjackets were third of six in the final, behind just Ithaca and William Smith. Again, eight entries made up the 2V field.
 
UR also had an entry in the 3rd varsity 8+ race, with that group rowing a time of 7:56.90 over the length of the course. The team place third of three, behind William Smith and Skidmore.
 
Rochester also had initially planned to compete in the novice 8+ and varsity 4+ competitions, but those entries were scratched before competition started.
 
The Yellowjackets conclude their 2024 season next Sunday, May 12, at the NIRC Championships in Worcester, Massachusetts.
 
Boat Lineups:
1V8 – Avery Alperin, Hannah Zerman, Anushka Aritharan, Josephine Myung, Jinx Allison, Kaitlyn Bartlett, Ava Prevey-Sullivan, Lindsey Brayer, Madeleine LaChance.
2V8 – Mykaila Meunier, Sarah Kelley, Maddie Weigle, Sophie Weissman, Mary Woods, Meg Hanson, Kennedy Leininger, Aviva Bock, Rachel Markowitz.
3V8 – Grace Snyder, Elizabeth Lotts, Quinn Law-Knotts, Elizabeth Carleton, Sophia Weigle, Lillian Zullow, Anjali Ramdin, Julia Tricomi, Leah Gillette.