GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith women returned to Geneva waters on Saturday, Oct. 25, when it hosted the annual Challenge on the Canal. The Herons finished first in all five events contested.
 
William Smith welcomed Mercyhurst and Rochester Institute of Technology to the Cayuga-Seneca Canal for a day of racing.. Small boat races were contested in the morning, and the varsity eights taking to the course in the afternoon. Through the 4,400-meter course, the rowers experienced overcast conditions and a moderate headwind.
 
WOMEN'S 1X

• The William Smith single was sculled by sophomore Isabella Falcone.
• Starting the day in compelling fashion, the sole Heron entry was the second boat off the line. She powered off the start against one RIT boat.
• Falcone crossed the line with a time of 24:02, seven seconds faster than the Tiger boat.

 
WOMEN'S 2-

• Next on the racecourse was the pairs race. The Herons entered three boats.
• The William Smith pairs consisted of Raya Schwartz and Nora Smith, Olivia Helms and Lily Liflander, Mariee Voss and Alessandra Gialanella.
• Schwartz and Smith took home first place, posting a time of 19:59. They beat the RIT boat by 30 seconds.
• Helms and Liflander placed third with a time of 20:44.
• Voss and Gialanella were fourth.

 
WOMEN'S 4+

• The Heron's Varsity 4 was driven by Lizzy Whitney, Linnea Darius, Kate Abdalla, Aubrey Ryan, and Meghan Bartholomay.
• Coming off their second-place finish at Head of the Charles last week, the William Smith V4 continued to show strong form. They won their home race, posting a time of 18:26.
• Whitney, Darius, Abdalla, Ryan and Bartholomay won the event by over a minute.

 
NOVICE 8+

• William Smith had both entries in the event.
• One Herons' eight was powered by Skylar Strong, Dani Krenzer, Merideth Cullen, Kate Oberg, Vanessa Tarpy, Lilly Andrews-Edwards, Caitlyn Geary, Lily LaRue, and Vicentica Fuller.
• The Herons steered a sharp line down the course, finishing first with a time of 18:40.
• William Smith's other eight consisted of Maryli Nielson, Eden Grim, Isabella Ramirez, Ella Rhodes, Annika Stacia, Keira Heller, Megan Jones, Elina Jones, and Paige Barnhart.
• They finished second with a time of 18:45.

 
WOMEN'S 8+

• Varsity eights took to the water in the afternoon session. In a six-boat field, the Herons had three eights.
• The Women's First Varsity Eight was driven by Michaela Greco, Ryan, Abdalla, Darius, Cheyenne Muldowney, Grace Jung, Schwartz, Bartholomay, and Olivia Helms.
• The Herons opened up the race with a strong start and open water against the field. They posted a time of 16:31.
• The Herons' 2V was conducted by Whitney, Grim, Smith, Liflander, Paige Barnhart, Gialanella. Meredith Cullen, Dani Krenzer, and Voss.
• Claiming second place, the Herons second eight stormed down the course, stopping the clock at exactly 17 minutes.
• The novice eight took to the water again in the afternoon, the crossed the line with a time of 19:57.

 
UP NEXT
William Smith has concluded the fall portion of its racing schedule. The Herons next scheduled race is March 28 at the Cayuga Duals in Ithaca.