Nov. 1, 2007
NORFOLK, Va. -- An unprecedented three Lady Monarchs qualified for the ICSA Women's Singlehanded National Championship held in Seattle, Washington this weekend and will sail for ODU's 16th national title. Sophomore Katrina Williams returns to the event for her second time, as she finished 6th overall a year ago. Freshmen Stephanie Roble and Morgan Wilson round out the trio of sailors attempting to bring home Old Dominion's fourth Women's Singlehanded title and 16th overall.
Williams, the 2006 OMEGA Female Sailor of the Year for Bermuda, will be sailing in her third national championship at the collegiate level. She sailed in last fall's Singlehanded Championship to sixth place and also was skipper in the Women's Dinghy Championship last spring. She is one of ODU's most promising skippers, finishing just six points out of the top five as a true freshman.
Roble and Wilson are having very impressive rookie campaigns, qualifying for nationals. Roble finished second at the MAISA Championship and Wilson came in third, just 12 points behind the winner. The freshmen tandem have both sailed well early this season in co-ed events and in singlehanded competition.
It marks the first time in ODU history that three Lady Monarchs boast spots in the five alloted MAISA berths. Despite the advantage in probability, as only one other school has as many as two sailors in the event, ODU will still face stiff competition. The second place sailor from the championship a year ago, Allison Blecher (College of Charleston) will prove a threat, as will Sara Morgan Watters (St. Mary's), the MAISA champion.
The event will begin Friday, November 2 and span through the weekend with the champion being determined Sunday afternoon. Please stay tuned to odusports.com for updates.