Williams sweeps Wesleyan, Amherst to take Little Three Championships
PITTSFIELD, MA -- The Williams men's crew won every race they
entered on their way to the Little Three title in front of a large
home crowd on Lake Onota in their annual competition with Wesleyan
and Amherst. The University of Vermont competed as a guest
crew this year.
This regatta was billed as a tight match-up between the powerful
Williams 1V and defending Little Three champion, Wesleyan. With
perfect racing conditions, flat water, and minimal wind, the
men’s 1V made a statement with their victory and reclaimed
the Saratoga Oar. The men started the race with a strong
start sequence that pushed them ahead by several seats.
Through the 1,000 meter mark they managed to gain several more, but
it was the third 500 meters of the race where they finally
separated themselves from the Wesleyan crew and went on to take an
open water victory with a time of 6:07.9. Wesleyan finished
five seconds back in 6:12.9.
By virtue of their strong performances this spring, the novice men
raced in the second varsity event as the Williams 2V and came away
with a win over the Wesleyan 2V. The novice men defeated
Wesleyan by several lengths of open water to cross the line in
6:17.7, with Wesleyan in second in 6:33.9.
In the 3V event, the Williams 2V, racing as Williams
“A”, took the win over Wesleyan, the Williams 3V,
racing as Williams “B”, and Vermont. The 2V
pulled away to take the victory in 6:25.7, while the 3V battled it
out with Wesleyan and settled for third with a time of 6:37.9, a
length behind the second place Wesleyan crew (6:33.1).
Vermont was fourth in 6:53.1.
Williams entered two novice fours in the men’s novice four
event, the most subscribed event of the day, and came away with the
top two spots. The first Williams boat crossed the line
in 7:05.8, with the next Williams boat finishing in 7:13.2.
UVM “A” finished five seconds back to take third in
7:18.5, while UVM “B” and Amherst finished fourth and
fifth, respectively.
Williams did not race any varsity fours.
The Ephs will host Marist, Bates, Ithaca, USCGA, and Tufts at Lake
Onota on April 26 in their final tune-up before the New England
Rowing Championships.
