SAN DIEGO – The Stanford lightweight women's rowing program began the 2017 season in the same dominant fashion it closed the 2016 campaign. The Cardinal, the two-time defending Intercollegiate Rowing Association champions, won both the collegiate eight and open eight grand finals on Sunday in the San Diego Crew Classic on Mission Bay.
The lightweight eight raced down the Mission Bay course in 6:35.82 to win the Women's Collegiate Varsity Eight Cal Cup by nearly five seconds over the openweight crew from the University of Tennessee (6:40.18). San Diego State's openweight crew placed third with a time of 6:45.54.
The Cardinal women's lightweight crew's other entry won the Women's Open Varsity Eight Carley Copley Cup. Stanford cruised past the finish line by open water with a time of 6:54.18, ahead of the openweight crew from the University of Southern California (7:00.45). Washington State's openweight crew placed third with a time of 7:04.05.
The two-day San Diego Crew Classic marked the first regatta for Kate Bertko as head coach of the Stanford lightweight rowing program.
Stanford will be back in action next Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9, racing in the Knecht Cup on Mercer Lake in New Jersey.
Collegiate Eight Grand Final
| Place | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Stanford Lightweight | 6:35.82 |
| 2. | Tennessee | 6:42.18 |
| 3. | San Diego State | 6:45.54 |
| 4. | George Washington | 6:47.81 |
| 5. | Loyola Marymount | 6:49.68 |
| 6. | Sacramento State | 6:50.12 |
Open Eight Grand Final
| Place | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Stanford Lightweight | 6:54.18 |
| 2. | Southern California | 7:00.45 |
| 3. | Washington State | 7:04.05 |
| 4. | San Diego | 7:04.06 |
| 5. | UC Santa Barbara | 7:28.09 |
| 6. | Long Beach State | 7:38.89 |
| 7. | Colorado | 7:40.82 |