Yesterday afternoon, during a cold day on Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs, NY, Emily Andersen ’11 and the William Smith College crew team won the Liberty League title in a thriller over Rochester Institute of Technology.

In the first heat, the Herons, ranked 11th in the latest national coaches poll, left the six other teams in their wake, racing to a time of 7:51.09 to edge #13 RIT at the line by 0.25 seconds. In the final, William Smith roared out to an early lead over RIT and Union College, at one point building a six-seat cushion. RIT slowly closed the gap over the second half of the race, but the Herons did just enough to hold off the Tigers by 1.2 seconds, claiming their fifth straight Liberty Championship.

In addition, they were named the Liberty League Boat of the Week for the fourth time this season.

The Herons will seek yet another title on May 2 when they race in the New York State Rowing Championships in Whitney Point.

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