Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships
Mercer Lake • West Windsor, N.J.
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| Lightweight Eight Grand Final | |
| 1. Stanford | 6:40.480 |
| 2. Boston | 6:43.420 |
| 3. Radcliffe | 6:47.140 |
| 4. Wisconsin | 7:00.490 |
| 5. MIT | 7:02.160 |
| 6. Princeton | 7:11.580 |
| Lightweight Four Grand Final | |
| 1. Wisconsin | 7:38.650 |
| 2. Massachusetts | 7:42.660 |
| 3. Stanford | 7:44.380 |
| 4. Radcliffe | 7:48.930 |
| 5. Boston | 7:49.850 |
| 6. Tulsa | 8:03.980 |
| Lightweight Double Grand Final | |
| 1. Boston | 7:54.400 |
| 2. Wisconsin | 7:55.290 |
| 3. Stanford | 8:07.380 |
| 4. Tulsa | 8:12.460 |
| 5. Radcliffe | 8:13.780 |
| 6. Princeton | 8:40.610 |
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Back-to-back National Champions!
Stanford lightweight rowing won its second straight Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championship Sunday morning on Mercer Lake in New Jersey.
The Cardinal lightweight eight completed its second straight undefeated season, by capturing its Grand Final. The lightweight four and the lightweight double placed third in each of their respective Grand Finals as all three boats medaled.
National Champions! 🏆 #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/74a0SFvega
— Stanford Lights (@StanfordLwtCrew) June 5, 2016
Stanford totaled 34 team points (only eight and four included in IRA scoring) to win the IRA team title by four points of Boston and Wisconsin.
“It’s exciting for the student-athletes,” head lightweight rowing coach Derek Byrnes said. “Our goal is to win as a team and we did that. It was a great team effort. They are all hardworking people. It is even more meaningful because we are right in the middle of final exams. They are racing, taking exams and studying and racing and studying some more. It’s the Stanford student-athlete and it is very impressive.
The Stanford lightweight eight pushed its bow ahead of the field early in Sunday’s Grand Final and never looked back, en route to the IRA Title. The Cardinal opened a length advantage on the field at the 750-meter mark. Stanford (6:40.480) crossed the finish line seven seats ahead of Boston (6:43.420) to secure the national championship – its sixth lightweight eight IRA title in the last seven years.
.@IRARowingChamps National Champions! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/YeEHDi0Wfq
— Stanford Lights (@StanfordLwtCrew) June 5, 2016
The lightweight four jockeyed for position with Wisconsin and Massachusetts early on in its Grand Final. Wisconsin took the lead and Massachusetts moved into second as the boats approached 750 meters. The Cardinal was a length back of Massachusetts at 1,000 meters. Stanford finished third to capture the Bronze Medal with a time of 7:44.380. Wisconsin (7:38.650) won the Grand Final, while Massachusetts (7:42.660) took the Silver. It was the third-straight medal finish for the boat, which won the IRA title last year and took the Silver in 2014.
Cardinal receives their medals #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/wTW8ZleK6E
— Stanford Lights (@StanfordLwtCrew) June 5, 2016
The Cardinal lightweight double also tried to navigate through the crowded field early on in its Grand Final, settling into third place at 750 meters. Stanford tried to take water away from second-place Wisconsin, but the Badgers held on to the advantage. The Cardinal took the Bronze with a time of 8:07.380. Boston (7:54.400) captured the Gold, and Wisconsin (7:55.290) took home the Silver.
The double picks up the Bronze! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/x3H3eokmfP
— Stanford Lights (@StanfordLwtCrew) June 5, 2016
“Our seniors, Brittany and Katherine are special,” Byrnes added. “They each have their own way of leading and they are great role models for Stanford. “They work very hard and bring so much knowledge to our program. They want to do well and know how to lead this group. I am so happy for them for what they have achieved at Stanford.”