SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY –  A year after the 2nd Varsity 8 boat placed seventh in a field of seven, the University of Rochester 2V posted a runner-up finish at the Liberty League Championships, leading the Yellowjacket entries on Friday morning along Fish Creek.
 
In addition to the 2V's result, the Yellowjackets 1st Varsity 8 boat earned third place in the premier event of the day, completing the solid day on the water for the #12 team in Division III.
 
During the 2nd Varsity event, top-seeded William smith led the field but the Yellowjackets hung with the Herons, and left the rest of the field behind. Before the halfway point of 1000 meters, the two lead boats had open water on Ithaca who held a slight advantage over the other crews.
 
"This team has been working hard all season. With flooding on the Genesee keeping us from practicing on the water, they've made the best of indoor training," said Director of Rowing Ethan Curren. "The 2V has been steadily improving all season and this was their best performance from start to finish."
 
The 2V race had to be restarted after anther crew had un unsafe point and stopped rowing within the breakage area. After all things were said and done, the Yellowjackets ended with a time of 7:34.26 across the 2000-meter course. William Smith won in 7:15.81, while Ithaca was third in 7:47.68.
 
In the 1V race, the URochester women won a close heat against Ithaca, a team they lost to in early April, but beat at the NY State Championships two weeks ago.
 
Later on in the final, heavily favored #8 William Smith showed why they were favorites, quickly grabbing the lead. #14 Skidmore jumped out with them and quickly got a lead on a tight field including Rochester, #13 Ithaca and RIT.
 
As the race progressed the Yellowjackets tried to work back into Skidmore, but couldn't make up the early gap. UR finished third in 7:09.69, while William Smith ended in first at 6:52.17. Runner-up Skidmore crossed the finish in 7:02.00.
 
"We had a close fight with Ithaca, who we knew would be out for revenge, but the 1V put together a really solid race and opened up on them by the end. Skidmore is always tough on their home course," said Curren.
 
The Rochester Women's open four finished fourth with a time of 9:37.92. RIT won that race, followed by William Smith and Ithaca.
 
Next week, URochester heads to the National Invitational Rowing Championships, which will have an incredibly deep field of competition, including all of the top-14 teams in the latest CRCA rankings. 
 
1V8 – Mykaila Meuiner, Jinx Allison, Kennedy Leininger, Sophie Weissman, Ava Prevey-Sullivan, Julia Tricomi, Erin Seitzer, Quinn Seawright, Sophia Fietkiewicz.
2V8 – Asha Limaye, Katelyn Wilmarth, Sabrina Butori Valdivia, Elizabeth Carleton, Rachel Ruminer, Marin Ievers, Devyn LaRue, Lillian Zullow, Hayes Keith.
V4 – Ella Peddicord, Kelsie McConnell, Alivia Sochia, Lubna Shah, Jessica Zheng.