April 25, 1999

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two of Notre Dame’s four boats finished in the top three at the Georgetown Invitational held today on the Potomac River.

The Novice Eight boat of coxswain Kim Benard (Burr Ridge, Ill.), Michelle Olsgard (Fort Collins, Colo.), Courtney Mercer (Herndon, Va.), Katherine Burnett (Germantown, Tenn.), Kelly Cooney (Rochester, N.Y.), Amy Braun (Indianapolis, Ind.), Erin Dowd (Concord, Ohio), Katie Besson (Hales Corner, Wis.) and Megan Feely (University City, Mo.) had another outstanding race as it finished just six seconds behind Georgetown. The Hoya boat crossed the finish line in 6:45.8, while the Irish crew turned in a time of 6:51.07. Villanova was third in 7:00.24 and Miami was fourth in 7:09.9.

The Varsity Lightweight boat of coxswain Erin Kiernicki (Chicago, Ill.), Lezlie Potter (Englewood, Colo.), Emily Miner (West Hartford, Conn.), Kathryn Hammel (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Jeannette McKenna (Brookville, Md.) garnered a third-place finish as posted a time of 7:51.89. Georgetown won the race in 7:39.67, while Villanova took fourth in 7:56.14.

Notre Dame will conclude its first season of competition next weeked when the Irish compete at the Midwest Championships in Madison, Wis. on May 1 and 2.