Women's rowing captures gold at Head of the Genesee

he Hamilton College Continentals' varsity 8 finished first in their first race of the 2019-20 season at the Head of the Genesee Regatta in Rochester, N.Y., on Saturday. Hamilton entered two boats in the regatta -- a varsity and second varsity 8. All races were run on a 5,000-meter course. The Continentals' varsity 8 captured first place out of 10 boats with a time of 17:59.38. Rochester Institute of Technology was runner-up but finished 36 seconds behind with a time of 18:35.69. William Smith College followed close behind in third place with a time of 18:36.45. In the final regular season Division III Top 15 coaches poll last May, Hamilton was ranked sixth, William Smith was ninth and RIT received votes. "First race at the Head of the Genesee is a good early-year measurement of where we are and what we need to do," head coach Jim Lister said. "Any and every race is an opportunity to learn how to compete. We will learn more about ourselves and our boats when we face our competition." The second varsity 8 finished second of three boats with a time of 19:14.86. RIT finished about 10 seconds ahead of the Continentals with a time of 19:04.65. William Smith was third again in 21:16.1. "I was very impressed with our six freshmen coming up and racing well in their respective boats," Lister said. Hamilton's varsity 8 will row in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Mass., on Sunday, Oct. 20. -