Oct. 1, 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- For the first time in Old Dominion history three Lady Monarch sailors qualified for the ICSA Women's Singlehanded National Championship at the Faye Bennet Regatta. The regatta is the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association's (MAISA) conference championship and the top five are awarded automatic berths into the national regatta. Freshmen Stephanie Roble and Morgan Wilson, along with sophomore Katrina Williams all qualified, finishing 2nd, 4th and 5th respectively. The national championship will be held November 2-4 in Seattle, Wash.
Roble paced the Monarchs as she was in first place after the first day and ended the regatta with 83 points in second place. She finished among the top three boats in seven of the 14 races completed, including three wins.
Fellow freshman Morgan Wilson matched Roble's output with three first place finishes as she had a stellar second day to finish 4th overall. Wilson had seven top five finishes in the 14 races and was just 12 points behind the winner.
A two-time national qualifier as a freshman, Katrina Williams qualified again with a fifth place finish at the MAISA Championship. She edged out Navy's Alaina Bussell by three points to win the final qualifying slot. At the ICSA Women's Singlehanded National Championship last year, Williams finished in 6th place overall.
It will be the first time ODU is represented by three females in the championship. Former Monarch and current U.S. Olympian Anna Tunnicliffe won three straight national championships at ODU from 2002-04.