March 23, 2006
NORFOLK, VA - The latest ranking compiled by SailingWorld and Collegesailing.org show the Old Dominion Lady Monarch sailing team in 11th place out of the top 15 programs in the country. ODU women's sailing was not previously ranked in the top 15. The U.S. Naval Academy holds the number one spot in the poll.
In the Coed top 20, ODU ranks 18th, dropping down from 14th in the previous poll. Harvard tops the coed ranking in first place. Last months first place program the College of Charleston falls to 11th place. For more information on college sailing rankings, check out www.collegesailing.org.
Old Dominion also ranks seventh in the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (MAISA) top ten poll. St. Mary's claims the first place spot. Old Dominion Sailors Charles Higgins and Jennifer Adams rank in the top five in the MAISA individual polls. Higgins fourth ranked sailor in the coed division, and Adams in first place for women's crews.
This comes just in time to host the Aaron Szambecki team race intersectional this weekend at the ODU Sailing center. Competing teams include Hobart Williams, Saint Mary's, Georgetown, and the Naval Academy. The racing will start Saturday Morning, March 25. Last year the Monarchs took third out of eight competitors.
The ODU Women will travel to Hampton, VA to compete in the MASISA/SAISA Open. Teams competing in the race include Hampton University, Maryland, UVA, Christopher Newport, and William and Mary. This racing will begin Saturday morning. Last year the Lady Monarchs finished fifth out of 11 teams.
Conditions for this weekend in Hampton Roads are predicted to be favorable for racing with no rain in the forecast. The weather also calls for highs in the 50's and light winds, likely to be 9-15 mph out of the north-northeast.