George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Graham Hall Team Race
Sailing Posts Solid Team Race, Women's Results
3/19/2018 12:00:00 AM | Sailing
After spending spring break at Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, the GW sailing team returned to competition over the weekend with a couple of Team Race events and one women's regatta.
"The team looked strong after a really productive spring break," said head coach Billy Martin. "We had two team races that we did really well in and our women's team also performed well. Everyone seems to be starting to hit their stride at this point in the season which is great. There are a lot of sailors showing up to events and sailing well."
GRAHAM HALL TEAM RACE (6th of 16)
The Colonials posted an 11-4 record in the single round robin to finish among the top six teams advancing into a "Gold 6" round. Competing against some of the best Team Race squads in collegiate sailing, GW finished 0-5 in that round with several close finishes.
"This is probably the toughest team race event of the spring for us going against the top teams in the country," said Martin. "We would've like to finish a little stronger but we looked really good in the single round robin and learned a lot. At this point there's a lot more good than bad."
WASHINGTON COLLEGE TEAM RACE (3rd of 6)
GW's contingent of eight sailors took a third-place finish behind Cornell and Navy, and ahead of Christopher Newport, St. Mary's College of Maryland and host Washington College. The Colonials started with a 5-5 record through the first two round robins before sweeping the third to finish 10-5.
"The second team race team we were able to get some younger sailors in and they were able to finish third," said Martin. "They went undefeated in their final round robin so they were starting to hit their stride towards the end of the event."
ST. MARY'S WOMEN'S (6th of 18)
With GW's top women's duo of Miranda Bakos and Belle Strachan competing at the Graham Hall Team Race, the Colonials were able to show off their depth. Riley Legault and Alexandra Fayer moved up to race in A Division and took seventh place, while Aitana Mendiguren and Sarah Noyes also finished seventh in B Division.
"The women's team top-to-bottom is so deep and strong," said Martin. "Riley and Alexandra sailed great in A Division and Aitana and Sarah did well in B showing they can compete at the highest level."
LOOK AHEAD
GW will compete in a trio of Team Race events next weekend in the Hanbury Team Race, St. Mary's Team Race and Szambecki Team Race.
"We had a lot of good stuff going on this weekend and we're going to keep pushing hard towards championship season," said Martin. "I think we're peaking at the right time."
Players Mentioned
