CAMBRIDGE/BOSTON, Mass. - The Simmons College crew team's varsity eight placed second in a race vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States Coast Guard Academy and Smith College this morning on the Charles River in Cambridge/Boston, Mass. as part of the Charles River Racing Series #1 to open the spring season for the Sharks.

Senior stroke Chelsea Foster (Avon, Conn.) helped power the varsity eight for Simmons to a time of 7:12.9 in the 2000-meter course to finish behind MIT, which crossed the finish line at 7:06.4. Foster was joined by senior Sophie Stone (Greenland, N.H.), in the seven seat, followed by sophomores Ronnie Bennett (Pottstown, Pa.), Phoebe Knox (Scituate, Mass.), Erica Bartle (Arlington, Mass.), Erin Lilienthal (Niantic, Conn.), senior Jess Randolph (Concord, N.C.) and senior Jill Bolduc (Methuen, Mass.) took over the bow seat. The shell was directed by junior coxswain Olivia Smiaroski (Northfield, Mass.). The Sharks almost finished a full 10 seconds ahead of Coast Guard Academy.

Simmons' number two varsity boat was powered by sophomore Alexa Frongillo (Franklin, Mass.) and finished third behind MIT and Smith College. MIT clocked in at 7:13.6, while Smith owned a time of 7:31.2. The Sharks posted a mark of 7:33.5, which placed them almost 26 seconds faster than Coast Guard.  Sophomore Elsbeth Colson (Everett, Mass.) sat ahead of Frongillo, while senior Allie Belanger (Blackstone, Mass.) was seated in the sixth spot. First year Eliana Ruben (Pittsfield, Vt.) and sophomore Elizabeth Rea-Wilson (Concord, Mass.) maintained their respective seats in the middle of the shell, while sophomore Karina Bercan (Derry, N.H.). competed from the third seat. Senior Abi Smith (Brookline, Mass.) and first year Niamh McIntosh-Yee (Exclesior, Minn.) rounded out the squad for the race, including McIntosh on the bow. Sophomore Clarice Johnson (Norwell, Mass.) guided Simmons from the coxswain seat.

The Sharks' novice eight was defeated in a head-to-head race with Smith College. The Pioneers turned in a time of 7:48.8, while Simmons posted a mark of 8:07.7

First year Kit Birch (Mansfield, Mass.) claimed the stroke seat, while classmate Madison Summers (Hudson, N.H.) sat seventh. First year Christine Yu (Plainville, Mass.) sat in the sixth seat. First year Kneide Nascimento (Revere, Mass.) was in the five spot, while Jacquelyn Noyes (White River Junction, Vt.) rowed from the fourth seat. First year Kellie Cann (Needham, Mass.) sat in the number three spot, before Kaitlin Maloney (Manchester, Conn.) in seat number two. First year Nicole Lee (North Reading, Mass.) settled in as the bow and classmate Melissa Morton (Somers, Conn.) served as the coxswain for the Sharks.

Simmons returns to action on Saturday, April 2 when it cometes against MIT and Bates on the Charles River again.