RACE RESULTS
Novice 4+: Monmouth 1 of 23 (Monmouth A)
Novice 4+: Monmouth 8 of 23 (Monmouth B)
Novice 8+: Monmouth 2 of
 
PENNSAUKEN, NJ - The Monmouth University women's rowing team traveled to Cherry Hill, NJ on Saturday and Sunday for the Knecht Cup Regatta, hosted by LaSalle University.  The Hawks joined 51 other schools in the two-day event on the Cooper River. 

The Hawks previously captured gold and bronze in a seven-boat field at the Murphy Cup the past weekend, raising expectations for the more competitive weekend ahead. Monmouth did not disappoint.
 
Monmouth began the weekend on Saturday morning with heats in the Frosh/Novice 4+.  Monmouth's "B" entry finished second in their heat, 6.2 seconds behind heat winner West Virginia University (8:31.8). Monmouth "A" won their heat in 7:58.6 over Boston University (8:05.8).  Monmouth "A" posted the fastest time in the 21-boat field.
 
Following the morning heats in the four, Monmouth doubled up into the eight and won their heat over second place West Virginia by 26.3 seconds to advance to the Sunday final.
 
Sunday morning saw the Monmouth "B" entry take second place (8th out of 21) in the Petite Final behind Rhode Island and ahead of Catholic, Lafayette, UConn and New Hampshire.
 
In an outstanding Grand Final, Monmouth "A" (8:18.3) held off Fordham (8:21.0) to capture the gold medal in the 21-boat event.
 
"We rowed the heat with guts, against excellent competition, head coach Scott Belford said. "In the final we found the guts again, but we took a step forward with our execution."
 
The Hawks put their hulls away and went right back out in the Frosh/Novice 8.  Monmouth opted to sit Caitlin Newsome for the eight this weekend, instead calling upon coxswain Hailea Anderson to pull off a rare double, coxing the four and rowing the eight.  Anderson delivered as the Hawks pushed Army to the line. Ultimately, the Hawks lost to Army by less than three seconds, but proved that this young team is a force to be reckoned with.
 
"We asked everyone on this team to do something that they had never done," Belford added. "We called on seven of our athletes to race in two events.  We asked Hailea to cox and then pick up an oar and row.  She delivered."
 
"Can we continue to improve?  Absolutely.  Are we exceeding expectations? Without question."
 
Next weekend the Hawks travel to Philadelphia for the Kerr Cup, hosted by Drexel University. 
 
MONMOUTH LINEUPS
Novice 4+ Grand Final - Monmouth (A) - 8:18.38 – First Place of 23
Cox: Alaina Ruggiero
Stroke: Marissa McKenzie
3: Caitlin Newsome
2: Samantha LeCrone
Bow: Grace Hutchinson
 
Novice 4+ Petite Final - Monmouth (B) - 8:50.66 – Eighth Place of 23
Cox: Hailea Anderson
Stroke: Alayna Degan
3: Kaitlyn Rice
2: Anna Gaglianone
Bow: Heather Humes

Novice 8+ Grand Final - 7:38.53 – Second Place of 8
Cox: Alaina Ruggiero
Stroke: Alayna Degan
7: Kaitlyn Rice
6: Marissa McKenzie
5: Samantha LeCrone
4: Grace Hutchinson
3: Hailea Anderson
2: Anna Gaglianone
Bow: Heather Humes
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth returns to action next Saturday when it competes in the Kerr Cup on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.