Women's Champ Singles

Gevvie Wins Sixth in Row, Total Now 10

By Jenna Ciccotelli – Posted on October 20, 2019

For the record-tying sixth consecutive time, Gevvie Stone claimed the women’s championship singles title Saturday. The win broke yet another record for Stone, 34, whose 10 titles are also a regatta record.

The defending champion finished in 18:47.231, 3.84 seconds ahead of her training partner Emily Kallfelz and, in a bit of redemption, 13.46 seconds ahead of Kara Kohler, who had defeated Stone at this spring’s US Trials for the right to row the single in Tokyo.

“It’s all about going hard and having my best race out there,” Stone said. “It’s definitely special to get the encouragement along the course. I think I definitely gained from all the cheering and energy out there trying to make everyone proud.”

The numbers support Stone’s hypothesis – she held a three-second lead over Kohler as the top of the field passed the crowds cheering on Stone and Madden from Weld Boathouse. Byt the time the scullers passed the Cambridge Boat Club, Stone had pulled out into a comfortable 10-second lead over Kohler, with Kallfelz falling in between.

“I had a gain on Kara through that, but [I knew] that Emily was in the back of the pack. You can’t feel comfortable at any point during a head race.”

Stone is the first to pick up six consecutive titles since 1974, when Gail Pierson-Cromwell, who was the first woman to compete in the Head of the Charles, accomplished the same feat.

Records aside, Stone is sure the championship single race turned out nearly as she expected it would. With four Cambridge Boat Club members entered in the field, Stone’s familiarity with the opposition nearly equaled her familiarity with the course she has been rowing since she began rowing at the Windsor School 18 years ago.

“I knew it was going to be a tight race,” Stone said. “Emily‘s been right behind me all season. I’m glad to eke out the win.”