Willamette Women's Varsity 4+ Places Third at Daffodil Sprints

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University took third place in the women's varsity/lightweight 4+ at the Daffodil Sprints on Saturday, March 29. In addition, Willamette placed seventh in the women's junior varsity/novice 4+.

The schedule originally called for two rounds of racing in each event, with crews competing by division in the first round and then matched up by results for the second round, but a strong crossing headwind as well as driving rain and choppy water, led to the cancellation of the second round.

Willamette's varsity 4+ included coxswain Rachel Robinson (Jr., Bellevue, WA/Bellevue HS), along with Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS) at stroke, Hannah Puckett (Fr., Davis, CA/Davis HS) at 3-seat, Molly Pritchard (Fr., Medford, OR/South Medford HS) at 2-seat and Sarah Fish (So., Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) at bow.

The women's varsity/lightweight 4+ was won by Western Washington University, which recorded a time of 8:37.3. The University of Portland took second place less than six seconds later at 8:43.0 Willamette was third at 8:57.0.

Fourth place was earned by Portland State University in 9:04.3, with Pacific Lutheran University in fifth place at 9:10.3 Sixth place went to the University of Portland "B" crew in 9:22.1.

Rowing for the Bearcats in the women's junior varsity/novice 4+ was WU's novice crew of Bea McAlister (So., Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor HS) at stroke, Emily Rolin(Fr., Richmond, RI/Chariho HS) at 3-seat, Lily Dunbar (Fr., Oakland, CA/Oakland Technical HS) at 2-seat and Jenny Duren (Fr., Redmond, WA/Inglemoor HS) at bow. Sidney Gallardo (Fr., Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico/Oaxaca Christian School) was the coxswain.

The University of Puget Sound won the WJV/N 4+ in 9:00.2. Western Washington was second at 9:03.6 and Seattle University was third at 9:09.8. Willamette took seventh at 11:06.2.

Up next on the Willamette schedule is the Lewis & Clark Invitational on Saturday, April 5. The regatta will be held on Vancouver Lake in Vancouver, Wash.