GENEVA, N.Y.--Forty-four crews, the largest field in the history of the Challenge on the Canal hosted by William Smith College, descended on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal today. The Herons hosted Division I's Canisius College, Division III rivals Ithaca, Rochester, RIT, and St. John Fisher, as well as the men's club team from the University of Buffalo.
 
Crews raced against the clock on a 4.4-kilometer course.
 
The William Smith varsity eight produced a solid result in its first race of the fall. Hannah Glenshaw, Jackie Steinman, Bridget Kiejna, Karoline Loretan, Laurie VanBenschoten, Margaret Cameron, Madeline Cook, Madelaine Hamilton, and Jennifer Sullivan logged a time of 16:57, finishing third out of six entries. The Golden Griffins were first in 16:29 followed by the Tigers at 16:36. The Bombers (17:25), Yellowjackets (17:29), and Cardinals (18:55) rounded out the field.
 
Canisius also won the women's second varsity eight race, clocking in at 17:40. RIT was second, Ithaca took third, and William Smith placed fourth. The Herons stopped the clock at 18:54, just three seconds behind the Bombers. Rochester was fifth in the five-boat field.
 
In the varsity four race, Canisius A and B took the top two spots. William Smith's A entry, Hannah Baron, VanBenschoten, Loretan, Cook, and Cameron, placed third, 14 seconds ahead of Canisius C. Canisius D was fifth followed by William Smith B in sixth.
 
"I am very satisfied with today's results on the varsity level," Heron Head Coach Sandra Chu said. "It's an incredible opportunity for us to test out our speed so early in the season against strong competition. We're definitely much deeper with much faster top-end speed than we had last year."
 
The women's novice races were broken up into recruit eights and walk-on eights.
 
In the recruit eights, Rochester won in 17:31 with Ithaca in second at 17:47 and William Smith in third at 18:43.
 
In the walk-on eights, the Herons got their best finish of the day. William Smith B, powered by Crystal Leatvanich, Catherine DiCara, Anna Moreau, Piper DeLo, Mimi Allen, Annika Linden, Davida Eyam-Ozung, Samantha Hirkaler, and Kelly Klimczyk, stopped the clock at 20:26, finishing second to RIT. St. John Fisher was third, 11 seconds behind the Herons, while William Smith C was fourth.
 
"I'm particularly proud of the walk-on boats," Chu said. "We've only had them on the water for a little less than three weeks and their learning curve, especially over the last few days, has been steep. They have an impressive work ethic, enthusiasm for learning, and athleticism. Assistant Coaches Libby Hughes and Ford Weiskittel have nurtured these women with a steady hand and they are responding with daily increases in speed."