Lightweight Women Take Fourth at National Championship
CAMDEN, NJ- The varsity lightweight eight completed their season at the IRA National Collegiate Championships June 4-5. The Hoyas finished 4th, which is where they were ranked going into the competition. Bow to stern the boat comprised of: Danielle Bush, Bobbi Thomason, Caitlin McKenna, Jennifer Stokes, Emily Dempsey, Jessica Barker, Alli Dryer, Nicole Borsje, and coxswain Amber Carrier.
The race was highly anticipated after a season of very competitive racing and rankings. Only 5 seconds separated 1st place Radcliffe from 4th place Georgetown at Eastern Sprints. (Wisconsin and Princeton were 2nd and 3rd, respectively.) Princeton and Radcliffe had traded wins throughout the season, and Georgetown had upset Wisconsin the week before.
This rematch unfolded quite differently. Wisconsin stunned the field, defeating runner-up Princeton by 12 seconds, the largest margin of victory ever in a championship race at IRA. Princeton nipped perennial rival Radcliffe, who was ranked 1st going into the regatta, by one second. Georgetown finished 4th, followed by URI and Central Florida.
The Hoyas finished 4th in 2003 as well, and had hoped to improve on that
result. Nonetheless they had a very strong year and proved competitive
with top programs. Only two members of the varsity eight were graduated
in 2004, seniors Dempsey and Dryer. The lightweights look to next year
as another chance to build on the momentum of the past season and establish
themselves as a top team.
