RACE RESULTS
Varsity 4: Monmouth 4 of 6 (Monmouth A)
2^nd Varsity 4: Monmouth 2 of 6 (Monmouth B)
 
PHILADELPHIA - The Monmouth University women's rowing team returned to the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia on Saturday to compete in the Kerr Cup, hosted by Drexel University.  After back-to-back victories in the Freshman 4+ event at the Murphy Cup and Knecht Cup regattas, the young Monmouth team saw their first competition in an NCAA qualifying event in the Varsity 4+.
 
The morning heats began in near perfect conditions and Monmouth's Varsity 4+ of Alaina Ruggiero (coxswain), Marissa McKenzie, Caitlin Newsome, Samantha LeCrone and Alayna Degan responded with their best performance of the season.  In the first heat of the event, the Hawks advanced to the afternoon final in second place (7:40.6), behind host Drexel (7:38.4), and ahead of Old Dominion and American.
 
As course conditions began to deteriorate, the 2nd Varsity 4+ of Casey Mastin (coxswain), Grace Hutchinson, Kaitlyn Rice, Anna Gaglianone and Heather Humes won their heat into a steadily building headwind in a time of 9:20.5, ahead of Old Dominion, Fairfield, Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson University.
 
In the afternoon finals, the Varsity 4+ battled into difficult conditions to take fourth place (9:02.0) behind event winner Lafayette (8:29.0), and two entries from Drexel, and ahead of Old Dominion and Fairfield.
 
In the final event of the day, Monmouth's 2nd Varsity 4+ took second place (9:39.9) behind Lafayette (9:17.6) and ahead of LaSalle, Old Dominion and two entries from Fairfield.
 
"I thought the team took some big steps forward today, facing varsity-level competition for the first time," head coach Scott Belford said. "Both boats had their best race of the year in the morning heats.  The afternoon conditions were brutal, and the Varsity 4+ struggled with the stiff headwind and heavy chop, however we absolutely saw their potential this morning.

The 2nd Varsity 4+ handled the conditions extremely well in the afternoon and captured a well-earned silver. The whole group is excited to step up in competition again next weekend when they combine to race the Varsity 8+ at the Sacred Heart Invitational."

MONMOUTH LINEUPS
Women's Varsity 4+ Grand Final - Monmouth (A) - 9:02.0 – 4th Place of 6
Cox: Alaina Ruggiero
Stroke: Marissa McKenzie
3: Caitlin Newsome
2: Samantha LeCrone
Bow: Alayna Degan
 
Women's 2^nd Varsity 4+ Grand Final - Monmouth (B) - 9:39.9 – 2nd Place of 6
Cox: Casey Mastin
Stroke: Grace Hutchinson
3: Kaitlyn Rice
2: Anna Gaglianone
Bow: Heather Humes
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth is back in action next Saturday when it competes in the SHU Invite in Shelton, CT.