PHILADELPHIA - The University of Delaware Novice Eights crew won its heat and placed fourth in the finals to highlight performances by the Blue Hen women’s rowing team at the Murphy Cup Regatta Saturday on the Schuylkill River.

The Blue Hens competed in three other races, placing third in their heat of the Varsity Eights race, fourth in the heat of the Second Varsity Eights competition, and fifth in the Varsity Fours heat.

"I was extremely pleased with the success of the Novice Eights,” said Delaware head coach Laura Slice. “Even though the varsity boats did not advance to finals, they all raced strong and gave a good fight."

The Novice Eights crew of coxswain Avery Griffin (at right), Mary Grace Maggiano, Liz Cretekos, Alexx DeLorme, Jess Brooks, Regine Adrien, Brittany Hayes, Arielle Katz, and Kialeen Hay won its heat in a time of 6:14.9, defeating runner-up Loyola (6:15.7) by less than one second. The win advanced to the Hens to the finals where they placed fourth with a time of 6:45.6 behind winner Navy A (6:19.3), runner-up Princeton (6:24.33), and third place Navy B (6:31.3).

The Varsity Eights team of coxswain Kenna Plangemann, Laura Beaufort, Lisa Ferrara, Elizabeth Carey, Christina Stanley, Justine Strausser, Melanie Turner, Lisa Medina, and Nikki Jackowsky placed third in a its heat with a time of 6:17.0, trailing winner Navy (6:08.6) and runner-up Villanova (6:15.5).

The Second Varsity Eights team of coxswain Cami Off, Katie Broullire, Lana Rivers, Jenn Boutin, Rachel Thomas, Maria Bellumori, Nicolette Lotrionte, Katie Gooding, and Lynn Hamski placed fourth in its heat with a clocking of 6:35.9, trailing winner Navy (6:19.9), runner-up Temple (6:26.2), and third place Fordham (6:31.7).

The Blue Hens also placed fifth in the Varsity Fours race as the team of coxswain Callie Tegan, Emily Canniff, Kristen Cannatelli, Maureen Reardon, and Catherine Hansen rowed to a time of 7:26.8. American won the race with a time of 6:53.9 followed by Carnegie Mellon (6:57.92), Penn State (7:02.00), Lehigh (7:11.8), and Delaware.

The Blue Hens will be in action next on Apr. 7 when they travel to the George Washington Invitational in Washington, DC.

AGATE:

Varsity Eights (Heat/Top 2 Advanced to finals): 1. Navy, 6:08.6; 2. Villanova, 6:15.5; 3. Delaware, 6:17.0; 4. West Virginia, 6:18.3; 5. La Salle, 6:40.4.

Second Varsity Eights (Heat/Top 3 Advanced to finals): 1. Navy, 6:19.9; 2. Temple, 6:26.2; 3. Fordham, 6:31.7; 4. Delaware, 6:35.9; 5. Lehigh, 6:46.1

Novice Eights (Heat/Winner Advanced to finals): 1. Delaware, 6:14.9; 2. Loyola, 6:15.7; 3. Lafayette, 6;16.9; 4. Pittsburgh, 6:36.7; 5. Sacred Heart, 6:47.1; 6. Philadelphia B, 6:48.4; Novice Eights (Finals): 1. Navy A, 6:19.3; 2. Princeton, 6:24.33; 3. Navy B, 6:31.3; 4. Delaware, 6:45.6.

Varsity Fours (Heat/Winner Advanced to finals): 1. American, 6:53.9; 2. Carnegie Mellon, 6:57.92; 3. Penn State B, 7:02.00; 4. Lehigh, 7:11.8; 5. Delaware, 7:26.8.