Oct. 17, 2004

WEST POINT, NY - Army hosted racing Sunday at West Point Military Academy, dominating on their home waters in difficult conditions. Sacred Heart and Fairfield University Novice women accepted an invitation to compete on a 2.3 mile stretch of the Hudson River.

Upon crews' arrival, the brisk morning looked perfect for racing. When coaches and coxswains rode out in safety boats to inspect the planned course below Army's Caufield Crew and Sailing Center, it became apparent that gathering southerly winds had built a dangerous fetch up the open river, so the course was relocated upstream into the lee of more land where all agreed it was safer.

Army, Fairfield and Sacred Heart launched their strongest novices for the 1st eights race; the three crews warmed up to the start point upriver, turned and aligned to race back in that order. Thirty-second intervals between boats allowed each crew room to follow its best heading without interference.

Army looked sharp and quick, crossing the start with power and jumping well in front; Fairfield crossed next, rowing clean in the crews' first race of the season; and Sacred Heart followed up third over the line.

The Heart crew (Turner, Solheim, Rousseau, Ladouceur, McCarthy, McKessy, Mullane, Nissen and cox Cappozzoli) built to pressure, gained steadily on Fairfield and passed them in the first half, but couldn't catch Army in the remaining length of the course. Army rowed the distance 40 seconds faster than Sacred Heart and 1:52 faster than Fairfield.

The fours event was cancelled as wind continued to kick up the water, but the larger eights ventured out for a final race in conditions unfamiliar to Sacred Heart but common to Army on their larger river.

Nissen, Ladouceur and Mullane sat out and frosh rowers Melissa Allen and Ivonna Williams rowed their first race for Sacred Heart. The crew welcomed a Fairfield U. novice into the boat as she hadn't yet raced and Fairfield had opted out of the event.

Allen stroked, Turner moved to 2, Williams sat 5 for Ladouceur and McKessy sat bow. Fairfield's novice sat 3, her regular seat in her crew.

This time Sacred Heart started first, followed 30 seconds later by Army's second crew, none of who had raced less than an hour earlier. Army passed Sacred Heart before halfway, but continuing pressure and an excellent finish by Heart kept their loss to 38 seconds over a much longer course than in the first event.

At mid-day when the racing was done, Army barbecued for visiting crews on the roof deck of their boathouse.