GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The No. 6 Stanford women’s rowing enjoyed a lot of success on Lake Natoma last year and got off to a great start at the same course in 2015 with six wins on the first day of the Lake Natoma Invitational.
The top three boats for the Cardinal all went undefeated in two racing sessions on Saturday to end the day tied for the team points lead with the maximum 36 points.
"We learned so much about ourself and the competition by coming to this regatta," said head coach Yasmin Farooq. "It is a fantastic setup where you can apply what you learn from one race immediately to your next race."
Morning Session
Stanford got off to a strong start to the day with victories in their first three races. The varsity four and second varsity eight each tasted victory for the first time in 2015 with wins to begin the day, while the varsity eight has won four of its first five races. The Cardinal was tied for the lead with 18 points after the first set of races.
The varsity four was the first to take the water and won by open water over San Diego and Loyola Marymount. The Cardinal finished with a time of 7:14.9, nearly eight seconds ahead of USD. The boat features four freshmen, three of which gained their first collegiate win during the spring racing season. The win gave Stanford three team points.
The 2V8 was stroked by senior Courtney Carrabino and posted a great victory over USD and LMU. Stanford’s time of 6:33.1 was nine seconds faster than the 6:42.3 put up by San Diego. It was the first spring collegiate win for freshman coxswain Leigh Warner and freshman three seat Callie Heiderscheit. The 2V8 picked up six team points with the win.
The varsity eight continued hits tremendous start to the year with another victory. Eight of the nine members of the boat are juniors and seniors and that experience has led to a quick jump out of the gate. This time around the Cardinal cruised to a 12.4-second victory over USD and LMU to earn nine team points.
Nothing but the best for @StanfordRowing #trashcanicebath pic.twitter.com/Ufvjqj2uWL
— JS Sports Med (@JSsportsmed) April 11, 2015
Afternoon Session
The second half of the day saw Stanford face No. 16 Notre Dame and Sacramento State as well as the 2V4 in the grand final.
The Fighting Irish and Hornets proved to be no match for the Cardinal. The varsity eight extended its season victory total to five wins in six races. By the end of the race Stanford had pulled away from Notre Dame for a time of 6:36.2, nearly 13 seconds in front.
The varsity four also won by open water as they finished with a time of 7:34.1 for their second win of the day. Notre Dame was next with a time of 7:45.8.
The 2V8 race was close and came down to the wire, but Stanford held on for a 1.5-second victory. The Cardinal edged out Notre Dame with a time of 6:54.6.
In the Grand Final of the 2V4, Stanford was bow ball to bow ball with Cal at the finish line, but the Golden Bears snuck past in the final five strokes to edge Stanford by one tenth of a second for second place. The Cardinal finished third with a time of 7:38.5 and Brown took the victory.
Oxford-Cambridge
Also of note on Saturday was history being made on the Tideway in London as the Newton Women's Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge was held on the same day and same waterway as the men's boat race. Stanford alum Daphne Martschenko '14 rowed for Cambridge and despite the loss still will forever be a part of history.
Up Next
The Cardinal will have three more races tomorrow morning beginning with the varsity four at 8:40 a.m. Stanford will take on No. 2 Brown and No. 3 Cal in the varsity four, 2V8 (9:10 a.m.) and varsity eight (9:50 a.m.).
Lake Natoma Invitational
Lake Natoma
Gold River, Calif.
April 11, 2015
Morning Results
Varsity Eight
1. Stanford – 6:22.4
2. San Diego – 6:34.8
3. Loyola Marymount – 6:45.4
Second Varsity Eight
1. Stanford - 6:33.1
2. San Diego – 6:42.3
3. Loyola Marymount – 7:06.4
Varsity Four
1. Stanford – 7:14.9
2. San Diego – 7:22.5
3. Loyola Marymount – 7:47.6
Second Varsity Four
1. Brown – 7:25.4
2. Stanford – 7:31.1
3. Gonzaga – 7:36.4
4. Sacramento State – 8:01.0
Afternoon Results
Varsity Eight
1. Stanford – 6:36.2
2. Notre Dame – 6:49.0
3. Sacramento State – 7:05.2
Second Varsity Eight
1. Stanford – 6:54.6
2. Notre Dame – 6:56.1
3. Sacramento State – 7:14.3
Varsity Four
1. Stanford – 7:34.1
2. Notre Dame – 7:45.8
3. Sacramento State – 8:00.2
Second Varsity Four A Final
1. Brown – 7:34.1
2. Cal – 7:38.4
3. Stanford – 7:38.5
4. Notre Dame – 7:45.8
Lineups
Varsity Eight
Coxswain – Naomi Cornman
Stroke – Katie Toothman
7 – Kay Rusher
6 – Ellie Parker
5 – Simone Jacobs
4 – Meredith Fischer
3 – Alix Chrumka
2 – Ruth Narode
Bow – Nancy Miles
Second Varsity Eight
Coxswain – Leigh Warner
Stroke – Courtney Carrabino
7 – Emily Grundman
6 – Lilly Tinapple
5 – Alie Rusher
4 – Amanda Lorei
3 – Callie Heiderscheit
2 –Hope Sheils
Bow –Reilly Hayes
Varsity Four
Coxswain – Madi Kist
Stroke – Anya Miller
3 – Helen Stroheker
2 – Tracy Roberts
Bow – McKayla Taaffe
Second Varsity Four
Coxswain – Devin Norder
Stroke – Karen Munyan
3 – Karli Kirk
2 – Celeste Turner
Bow – Nicole Gilmore