Nov. 5, 2009
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas. - Two Old Dominion University sailors, senior Katrina Williams and junior Morgan Wilson, will compete this weekend for a shot at the InterCollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Singlehanded National Championship. The ODU duo will be two of 18 participants at the event that showcases 13 different colleges from seven different conferences.
Both Williams and Wilson have competed twice already at the singlehanded championships. Williams sailed in 2006 and 2007, while Wilson participated in 2007 and 2008. Williams boasts a third and sixth place finish, while Wilson has finished ninth and 11th overall.
At this year's MAISA Women's Singlehanded Championship, Williams claimed second and Wilson finished fourth. In 18 races, Williams had 12 top-five results, including five first-place finishes. Wilson was equally impressive with 13 top-five finishes and one win.
Old Dominion has had a great deal of success at both the men's and women's singlehanded championships in recent years. The Monarchs have qualified at least one sailor into nationals in 15 of the last 16 years, winning four times. On the women's side, ODU has qualified 15 female sailors over the last 10 seasons.
From 2002-2005, US Gold Medalist and former Lady Monarch sailor Anna Tunnicliffe won back-to-back singlehanded championships for the first time in the history of the sport. Williams and Wilson hope to carry on the tradition of winning for the Lady Monarchs with their appearances this weekend.
Competition will get underway at the Corpus Christi YC on Friday, Nov. 6 and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 8.
-ODU-