April 20, 2008
ST. MARY'S, Md. -- The Old Dominion Lady Monarch sailors had a streak of eight straight national championship appearances snapped this weekend, as weather conditions shortened the MAISA Women's Championship to just 8 races. With the top four boats getting automatic bids to the national championship, the Lady Monarchs were left on the outside this season with a 5th place finish, just four points back of the potential bid. ODU finished with 60 points while Georgetown finished with 56.
After the first day of racing, ODU was 12 points out of fourth place with 42 total points after four completed races. Needing a surge on the second day, the team did everything they could on the course to pick up the deficit. However, a torrential downpour and lightning storm for approximately an hour on Sunday shortened the regatta. The teams were only able to finish one and a half more races after the storm.
Stephanie Roble and Jaclyn Finney sailed to a 2nd place finish in B division including three wins and a second place finish on the second day to help cut the lead from 12 down to just four.
In A division, Katrina Williams and Alissa Ayres also put together a stellar second day, with a second, third and two fourth place finishes. The veteran tandem finished 5th in A division with 41 total points after eight races.
However, the Georgetown team managed to stave the Lady Monarch pressure by having neither boat finish out of the top six all weekend. The A division pair for the Hoyas finished in second and ended the regatta with only one finish outside the top three boats.
ODU had been a part of each of the last eight national championships and won the women's national title in 2002.
A division = 8 Races B division = 8 Races A B TOT
1. Hobart&WilliamSmith 30 16 46 2. Navy 16 31 47 3. St. Mary's 28 24 52 4. Georgetown 21 35 56 5. ODU 41 19 60 6. Princeton University 67 43 110 7. Columbia University 44 69 113 8. Fordham University 61 58 119 9. Queen's University 64 69 13310. William & Mary 69 76 145