The No. 7 William Smith varsity eight raced in Lane 3 on a 1,700-meter course on the Genesee River against No. 15 Rochester and St. Lawrence. Coxswain Susan Tuvell maximized her crew's speed off the start to build the cushion her boat needed as they went through the turns. Responding to her urgency, Emma Dow, Emily Andersen, Caroline DeWeirdt, Karoline Loretan, Sophia Wensberg, Anola Stage, Laurie VanBenschoten, and Alex Belden handed her seat after seat, increasing the lead even as they rounded the outside of the turns. By the time they hit the last turn, the boat had an open water advantage over the field. The Herons used the remaining 500 meters to go for more and finished the race 20.73 seconds over No. 15 Rochester and 27.71 seconds over St. Lawrence.