William Smith sophomore oarswoman Maggie Smith represented the Herons on the 2010 ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships All-Conference Team. She was the seven seat in the varsity eight at the championships on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass., on May 9.

“Maggie has made tremendous strides this year in all areas of her life as a student-athlete, developing her role both on our team and on campus to one which works daily toward improving the experiences of all,” William Smith Head Coach Sandra Chu said. “Over the past season, she has demonstrated the ability to continually push her own limitations and achieve speed despite whatever challenges stood in her way. She is a definite racer and having moved to seven seat for the last two races of the season, showed how her tenacity and aggressiveness could impact the rhythm and speed of the boat.”

Smith and her teammates turned in the third fastest time of the morning heats, covering the 2,000-meter course in 6 minutes, 59.64 seconds. Unfortunately, the two crews with faster times, Ithaca and New Hampshire, were in the same heat. The top two teams in each of the three heats progressed to the grand final, while the next two finishers went to the petite final.

In the petite final, Smith and the Herons took second in 6:57.688, just 2.475 seconds behind Division I Holy Cross.

Smith has been a member of two Liberty League Boats of the Week and is one of 18 Herons currently competing for a seat in the varsity eight that will compete in the NCAA Division III Rowing Championship in Sacramento, Calif., May 28-29.