CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia women’s rowing team, competing Sunday at the Blue Island Challenge in Chicago, Ill., came away with a victory in the 5,000-meter race and a second-place finish in the 2,000-meter race.

The crew of Cristine Candland, Lauren Shook, Helen Tompkins, Lauren Hutchins, Amanda Chase, Desiree Burns, Augusta Stratos, Marie Long and Claudia Blandford finished the 5,000-meter race in first place with a time of 16:16.7. Rounding out the top five in that race was Michigan State “A” (16:18.6), Wisconsin (16:24.6), Minnesota (16:35.3) and Michigan State “B” (16:37.0).

"The main emphasis in the fall is the 5,000 meter distance in a time trial format and I was pleased we were able to win the race this morning,” UVa head coach Kevin Sauer said. “We raced hard, pushing the pace the entire way and it was a good thing we did because Michigan State was very close.”

In the afternoon 2,000-meter race, Virginia finished in second place with a time of 6:48.6. Michigan State “A” won with a time of 6:46.5.

“The 2,000-meter race in the afternoon was an opportunity to race again at the distance we race in the spring,” Sauer said.  “Obviously, no one practices for the 2,000 meter distance in the fall but it was fun to line up across the top four times from the 5,000 meter race and go at each other, getting second against a strong field.  Michigan State was able to move a bit away from us at about 1,300 meters and Wisconsin was coming strong at the finish. I want to thank Minnesota for loaning us a boat and Wisconsin for oars.  It is the spirit of the sport and the competitors to help each other out when we can.  Also, the city of Blue Island did a good job of putting on the regatta on the Cal-Sag channel which is an amazing body of protected water."

The Blue Island Challenge marked the second of five fall events for Virginia rowing. The novices face George Washington and Georgetown next Saturday, Nov. 8, in Charlottesville, Va., as the fall season continues.