ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Marietta College women's crew closed out its 2009 fall season Sunday (Oct. 11) when the Pioneers competed in two events at the 21st annual Head of the Genesee Invitational Regatta at Genesee Valley Park. The event featured numerous collegiate teams from the Northeast United States and Canada. [Results]

The Head of the Genesee, formerly know as the Stonehurst Invitational, draws top competition due to its unique regatta format. In the morning, crews competed over a three-mile head race course. In the afternoon, crews were paired based on their head race results, for a 1,500-meter sprint race. A formula helped determine the final placement of each boat.

Marietta's Varsity 8+ went up against 25 other crews in an Open 8+ event. The Pioneers, who featured coxswain Lauren Talasnik (Mays Landing, N.J., Oakcrest), stroke Kelli Barnette (Parkersburg, W.Va., South), Elizabeth Bratton (Philadelphia, Pa., St. Basil Academy), Katelyn Hilderbrand (Pittsburgh, Pa., North Allegheny), Caitlin Piotrowski (Dublin, Dublin Jerome), Bridget Dean (Rochester, Minn., Mayo), Jessica Amato (Shelby, Shelby), Alexandra Cathcart (Wilmington, Del., St. Mark's) and bow Alyse McNeill (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler Area), began the morning with an eighth place finish (fifth in the collegiate division) in the head race after crossing the line in 17:51.60. SUNY-Buffalo had the fastest time, finishing in 16:55.99, while Ithaca was the top collegiate crew, taking third overall with a time of 17:29.93. Marietta also took eighth in the afternoon sprint, crossing the line in 5:14.43. Again, the Pioneers were the fifth fastest collegiate crew and finished with that position in the final standings.

The Pioneers' Freshmen/Novice 8+, which once again featured all novice rowers, faced five other crews in its head race only event on Sunday. Coxswain Amey Fink (Pittsburgh, Pa., Baldwin), stroke Ariel Stadden (Cleveland, James F. Rhodes), Angela Hackenburg (Bellevue, Bellevue), Trisha Wendel (Chagrin Falls, Kenston), Natalie Gravelsins (Eastlake, Eastlake North), Kelly Moses (Lyndhurst, Brush), Sheena Hu (China), Abigail Klicker (Avalon Borough, Pa., Northgate) and bow Sarah Auld (Bexley, Columbus School for Girls) crossed the line in 20:41.49 to place fourth. SUNY-Buffalo B won the race in 18:38.16, while SUNY-Buffalo A took second in 19:30.75 and Rochester was third in 20:08.97.

While Marietta is officially done racing for the fall season, the Pioneers will host their annual Alumni vs. Freshmen race during Homecoming on Saturday (Oct. 17). Those festivities will begin at 8 a.m.