University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Dad Vail Regatta
Varsity Eight Finishes Strong
May 12, 2003 | Women's Crew
May 12, 2003
Amherst, Mass. -- The University of Massachusetts women's crew team closed out its 2003 spring season with strong performances over the weekend at the Dad Vail Regatta, Friday and Saturday in Philadelphia, and Sunday's ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships on the Cooper (N.J.) River.
The UMass varsity eight picked up the gold medal at the Dad Vail Regatta, winning in a season-best time of 6:32.19. On Sunday, Massachusetts raced to victory in the ECAC's varsity metro eight final in 6:52.70. It marked the second consecutive season the Minutewomen swept the varsity eight gold at the Dad Vail and ECAC regattas to end the season.
The varsity eight included coxswain Megan Mastropolo (Old Tappan, N.J.), Katie O'Brien (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Lizzy Boyle (Darien, Conn.), Lea Jakobsen (Copenhagen, Denmark), Carrie Hellstedt (Westford, Mass.), Lauren Cromwell (Missoula, Mont.), Colleen Banfield (Billerica, Mass.), Anna Talucci (West Chester, Pa.) and Catherine Gariepy (Lorraine, Quebec).
UMass' second varsity eight won its final at Dad Vail, but was later disqualified. On Sunday, the crew bounced back to claim the ECAC title in 7:09.40.
The Minutewomen's novice eight finished fourth at both the Dad Vail (6:57.3) and the ECAC Championships (7:23.68).
At the ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships, UMass also finished second in the metro four with a coxswain in 8:09.44 and second in the lightweight eight (7:46.34).
The wins capped another successful season for Coach Jim Dietz' program, which captured its eighth consecutive A-10 crown last month.
