Varsity Eight Wins Big Row

Big Row
Redwood Shores • Redwood City, Calif.
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REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – Stanford women's rowing's varsity eight sent its seniors out with a Big Row victory.

No. 6 Stanford handed top-ranked and previously undefeated California its first loss of the season in the varsity eight, capturing the Lambert Cup with a win over the Golden Bears Saturday morning at Redwood Shores. 

"We have raced Cal three times this season and the Big Row is the end of our regular season, Stanford head women's rowing coach Yasmin Farooq said. "California is a team that brings out the best in us and hopefully we bring out the best in them as well. I think this is the best preparation we could have for the Pac-12 Championships.

"Today they won three out of the four races and we were fortunate to win the varsity eight at the end, which was awesome," Farooq added. "I am really proud of everyone, especially our seniors. This is our biggest senior class ever. There were three seniors in the varsity eight and they all did a great job. I am going to miss them all, but we have four more weeks with them with the Pac-12 Championships and hopefully a bid to the NCAA Championships."

The varsity eight race was a battle from the start with both crews racing side-by-side over the first 500 meters. The Cardinal then began to edge its bow in front and took a five second lead by the 1,000-meter mark. Stanford held its lead throughout the final half of the course to win by a length over California. The Cardinal recorded a season-best time of 6:12.82, while the Golden Bears completed the course in 6:16.63.

Stanford defeats No. 1 California in the varsity eight #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/3NX6aqqA9l

— Stanford Rowing (@StanfordRowing) April 30, 2016

Stanford's varsity eight has now defeated California in the Big Row two of the last three years, also taking home the Lambert Cup in 2014. 

It was the third time this season Stanford and California have faced off in the varsity eight, with the Golden Bears winning the first two races - at Redwood Shores on March 26 and at Lake Natoma on April 17.

California claimed wins in the second varsity eight, the varsity four and the third varsity eight. The Golden Bears won by open water in the second varsity eight (6:24.86 - 6:31.43) and third varsity eight (6:40.32 - 6:47.71). The Cardinal varsity four completed the course in 7:25.60, behind California (7:21.93). 

Both Stanford and Cal donned special uniforms in honor of former Cal coxswain Jill Costello, who lost her battle with lung cancer in 2010. Stanford had pink tank tops with a “sea foam” green ribbon (Jill’s favorite color) and the Stanford “S” on the front and “Team Jill” written on the back.

Saturday's Big Row concluded Stanford's regular season. The Cardinal now turns its focus to the Pac-12 Championships on Sunday, May 15 at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. 

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