June 2, 2002
Cherry Hill, NJ - The Stanford Lightweight Women finished their inaugural season with a 6th place finish at the National Championships in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Head Coach Al Acosta remarked, "Although the team was disappointed with their performance in the finals, they are extremely proud of what they accomplished this year. Considering that eight of the nine athletes had no prior rowing experience, I think they went further than anyone could have imagined."
| "We learned a lot, and we are all confident that we can make it back here next year and contend for a medal." Coach Acosta |
Racing against eventual champions Princeton in the first round heat, Stanford was able to finish a solid second, ahead of Villanova and Delaware. In what turned out to be one of their toughest races of the year, Stanford qualified for the Grand Finals later that day by finishing second to Mecyhurst by half a length and 1.5 seconds up on Delaware.
Racing in the Grand Finals, in a screaming cross tailwind and rolling white caps, Stanford was able to put up a good fight until the end. "We wanted to go under seven minutes and we wanted to make the finals." Said Coach Acosta. "However, once you do those things, you immediately want more, and I have to qualms about that. We learned a lot, and we are all confident that we can make it back here next year and contend for a medal."
Princeton - 6:26
Wisconsin - 6:30
Harvard - 6:37
Mercyhurst - 6:37
UCSB - 6:50
Stanford - 6:53