PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware Varsity Eights and Novice Eights teams both advanced out of their heats to lead the Blue Hens at the annual Dad Vail Regatta Friday and Saturday on the Schuylkill River.

The Novice Eights team placed second in its heat to advance to the semifinals where it placed fifth while the Varsity Eights team finished fourth in its heat to advance to the repechage round where Delaware placed fifth.

In other events, Delaware finished fourth in its heat in the Second Varsity Eights, fourth in its heat in the Novice Fours, and fifth in its heat in the Varsity Fours race.

The 70th annual event is the largest collegiate regatta in the United States with over 100 schools taking part. The event closed out the 2008 season for the Blue Hens, the fifth under head coach Laura Slice.

The Novice Eights team of coxswain Marra Green, Tracy Iudica, Leanna Colubriale, Sara Leviton, Steph Lynch, Katelyn Huber, Corey Kalota, Kaitlin Roehrer, and Sarah Baillie rowed to a time of 6:59.651 to place second behind winner Saint Joseph’s (6:47.808). Saint Joseph’s also won the semifinal race with a clocking of 6:40.101. Alabama was second followed by Ohio State, Marist, Delaware (6:56.386), and West Virginia.

The Varsity Eights crew of coxswain Callie Tegan, Mary Grace Maggiano, Darra Finnerty, Regine Adrien, Liz Cretekos, Elizabeth Carey, Lana Rivers, Meredith Rubin, and Lisa Medina placed fourth in its heat with a clocking of 7:00.739 to advance.

San Diego won the heat in a time of 6:31.000 followed by St. Mary’s, Marist, Delaware, and Florida. In the repechage round, Santa Clara won the race in a time of 6:33.365 followed by Murray State, Villanova, Binghamton, and Delaware (7:00.054.

The Varsity Fours group of coxswain Amanda Burton, Alexx Delorme, Lily Chavarriaga, Erin Venturato, and Grace Bennett place fifth in its heat with a time of 8:24.286. Long Beach won the heat with a time of 7:30.889 followed by Stetson, Hofstra, Catholic, and Delaware.

The Second Varsity Eights crew of coxswain Avery Griffin, Katie Gooding, Clare Wardwell, Arielle Katz, Taima McCartney, Laura Stiffler, Maureen Reardon, Nicolette Lotrionte, and Brittany Hayes rowed to a time of 7:00.027 to place fourth in its heat. Massachusetts won the heat in a time of 6:33.143 and was followed by George Mason, Marist, Delaware, and Army.

The Novice Fours squad of coxswain Jen Popkin, Rachel Waylett, Lindsay Byrne, Valerie Glace, and Tara Bree rowed to a time of 7:55.230 to place fourth in its heat behind winner Franklin Pierce (7:42.288), Long Beach, and Fairfield.

AGATE:

Varsity Fours (heat): 1. Long Beach, 7:30.889; 2. Stetson, 7:34.069; 3. Hofstra, 8:05.897; 4. Catholic, 8:20.998; 5. Delaware (Amanda Burton, Alexx Delorme, Lily Chavarriaga, Erin Venturato, Grace Bennett), 8:24.286.

Novice Eights (heat): 1. Saint Joseph’s, 6:47.808; 2. Delaware (Marra Green, Tracy Iudica, Leanna Colubriale, Sara Leviton, Steph Lynch, Katelyn Huber, Corey Kalota, Kaitlin Roehrer, Sarah Baillie), 6:59.651; 3. Marist, 7:00.506; 4. Army, 7:02.068; 5. Binghamton, 7:13.851.
Novice Eights (semifinals): 1. Saint Joseph’s, 6:40.101; 2. Alabama, 6:44.684; 3. Ohio State, 6:50.047; 4. Marist, 6;50.845; 5. Delaware, 6:56.386; 6. West Virginia, 7:04.116.

Second Varsity Eights (heat): 1. Massachusetts, 6:33.143; 2. George Mason, 6:41.313; 3. Marist, 6:55.412; 4. Delaware (Avery Griffin, Katie Gooding, Clare Wardwell, Arielle Katz, Taima McCartney, Laura Stiffler, Maureen Reardon, Nicolette Lotrionte, Brittany Hayes), 7:00.027; 5. Army, 7:23.927.

Varsity Eights (heat): 1. San Diego, 6:31.000; 2. St. Mary’s, 6:41.755; 3. Marist, 6:48.925; 4. Delaware (Callie Tegan, Mary Grace Maggiano, Darra Finnerty, Regine Adrien, Liz Cretekos, Elizabeth Carey, Lana Rivers, Meredith Rubin, Lisa Medina), 7:00.739; 5. Florida, 7:08.343.
Varsity Eights (repechage): 1. Santa Clara, 6:33.365; 2. Murray State, 6:37.488; 3. Villanova, 6:47.206; 4. Binghamton, 6:54.947; 5. Delaware, 7:00.504.

Novice Fours (heat): 1. Franklin Pierce, 7:42.288; 2. Long Beach, 7:42.773; 3. Fairfield, 7:42.821; 4. Delaware (Jen Popkin, Rachel Waylett, Lindsay Byrne, Valerie Glace, Tara Bree), 7:55.230; 5. Johns Hopkins, 8:09.610.