BOSTON—For the first time since 2013, the William Smith rowing team earned a spot on the podium at the Head of the Charles regatta this afternoon. The Herons won a silver medal in the women's collegiate four. It's the best finish by the Herons in the event in program history.  
 
William Smith also finished on the podium at the HOCR in the collegiate four event in 2008, winning a bronze medal. The Herons won a silver medal in 2012 and a bronze medal in 2013 in the collegiate eight.
 
THE RACE

• Forty-one teams competed in the women's collegiate four event.
• They traversed the 3-mile course that runs from Boston University's DeWolfe Boathouse to just short of Northeastern University's Henderson Boathouse.
• The Herons' collegiate four was driven by Lizzy Whitney, Meghan Bartholomay, Aubrey Ryan, Kate Abdalla, and Linnea Darius.
• Starting as bow six, the Herons energetically powered off the start and overtook the Texas Crew and Clemson Rowing Association. The Herons steered a fantastic line through the technically challenging turns. 
• At a stroke rate of 33, the women battled a tailwind from the start of the race until Weld Boathouse, where the wind became a cross-headwind until Eliot Bridge, leaving the rest of the race in a headwind.
• The Herons had the second fastest time at the first checkpoint, Riverside Boathouse (4:13.832) and continued to hold that placing through the other two checkpoints.  
• William Smith crossed the line with a time of 19:03.667, claiming the silver medal 10 seconds ahead of Northwestern, which was third.
• Carleton University won the gold medal.

 
CAPTAIN'S CORNER
"Today was a special day for the Herons!" said Captains Linnea Darius and Aubrey Ryan. "All weekend, we felt the strong support from our teammates behind us. We trusted our fitness, our team's process, and each other, and that carried us through to the finish line. We're inspired by the Herons who came before us and proud to carry on their legacy." 
 
UP NEXT
The Herons will be back in Geneva, New York, on Saturday, Oct. 25, for HWS' traditional home race, the Challenge on the Canal.