Nov. 4, 2007
SHILSHOLE, Wash. -- The ICSA/Vanguard Women's Singlehanded Championships concluded on Sunday, as two Lady Monarchs finished among the top five sailors at the event. Sophomore Katrina Williams, leading into the final day, slipped to third overall, while freshman Stephanie Roble jumped from 5th to 4th on Sunday. The third ODU sailor at the event, Morgan Wilson, also bumped up a spot in the fleet on the final day, finishing 11th overall.
Williams (Pembroke, Bermuda) sandwiched a terrific final day of racing with two tough finishes out of the top ten, the only of the weekend for the sophomore. In seven races on Sunday, Katrina finished among the top five in five of them, including a win and two second-place finishes. Unfortunately, though, she started the day with a 13th and finished with and 11th to knock her back to third overall.
The third place performance by the ODU sophomore was the second top six effort in the event in her young career. This year, she had 13 finished among the first five boats including five wins. Her 71 total points were just 10 back of second and 18 back of the winner, Krysta Rohde (Coast Guard).
"We're obviously very proud of our girls, and how they competed," said head coach Mitch Brindley. "Krysta, from the Coast Guard academy, sailed a perfect day today. Her and Jane Macky, from Yale, both sailed perfect days. Katrina just had a couple tiny mistakes and when someone else is sailing perfectly, there's little you can do."
Roble (East Troy, Wisc.) finished with 96 points overall and 15 top ten finishes. On Sunday, she never finished outside the top eight, to close Evan Brown (Stanford) out of the top five and slide up a slot to fourth place. She won two heats at the regatta.
The Lady Monarchs third sailor at the event, Morgan Wilson (Arnold, Md.), finished among the top ten in nine races at the championship. Her 178 total points were good for 11th overall. Wilson slipped ahead of Lauren Knoles from Michigan State in the third race of the day.
"Overall, it was a great regatta for our girls," said Brindley. "Now we just gotta get out there and keep at it."
The championship was won by Krysta Rohde from the United States Coast Guard Academy with a terrific finish. On Sunday, in seven races, she finished first or second in six. She won with 53 points, eight ahead of Jane Macky (Yale). It is Coast Guard's first women's singlehanded national title, as Rohde is coached by former ODU All-American, Mark Zagol.