[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/mcmasterrowing.jpg” caption=”Alethia Hazaras and Emily Loyer took top honours in the lightweight women’s double sculls race, earning McMaster’s first ever gold at the Championships.”]McMaster University rowers took home gold at the Canadian University Rowing Championships earlier this month in Montreal.

Alethia Hazaras and Emily Loyer took top honours in the lightweight women's double sculls race, earning McMaster's first ever gold at the Championships. After returning to rowing from a severe hip injury, Loyer had hoped for a bronze medal at best.

“It means a great deal to me that we were able to achieve what we achieved,” she said. “It was the best we've ever raced.”

The pair won first place with a time of seven minutes and fifty-five seconds, beating out the University of Victoria and Queen's University, who came in second and third place respectively.

“The number one rule in rowing is 'never let go of your oars',” said Hazaras, “but the first thing I did after we crossed the finish line was throw them in front of me and leap into the back of the boat to hug my partner.”

A gold medal was not the only prize the rowing team took home, however, as Hazaras also won a bronze in the lightweight women's single sculls with a time of eight minutes and fifty seconds.

After their performance at the Championships, both Hazaras and Loyer have been invited to the Under 23 National Team training camp, which takes place November 28 and 29. If they make the team the pair would be able to compete at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships.