Knecht Cup

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford women's lightweight rowing looks to defend its 2016 crown at the Knecht Cup when the Cardinal descends on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey, this weekend.
 
The Cardinal lightweight eight will race in the first heat (7:25 a.m. PT) of the women's openweight varsity eight on Saturday, facing New Hampshire, Connecticut, Canisius and Wisconsin's lightweight eight. The top three finishers will advance to the Grand Final.
 
A second lightweight eight will compete in the women's openweight second varsity eight, facing Boston College, North Carolina, Connecticut Buffalo and Marist in its heat (8:42 a.m. PT) on Saturday. The top four finishers, plus the next fastest times among the four heats will advance to the semifinals.
 
Stanford will compete against Georgetown, Princeton, MIT, Radcliffe (Harvard) and Tulsa in the first heat (7:11 a.m. PT) of the women's lightweight four on Saturday. The top two finishers along with the next three fastest times among the two heats will advance to the Grand Final.  
 
The Cardinal will also compete in the women's openweight varsity four against Villanova, Canisius, Army, Fordham and Sacred Heart during heat (4:51 a.m. PT) racing on Saturday morning. The top four plus the next five fastest times among the four heats will advance to the semifinal.  
 
Stanford will also field an entry in the openweight novice four race, facing Loyola, Catholic, New Hampshire, Philadelphia and SMU in its heat (6:22 a.m. PT) on Saturday. The top three finishers along with the next three fastest times among the five heats will advance to the semifinals.  
 
Last season, Stanford captured three Grand Final victories in the Knecht Cup. The Cardinal won the crown in the lightweight varsity eight, lightweight varsity four and novice eight, while also taking first in the Petite Final of the lightweight varsity eight.  
 
Following this weekend's regatta, Stanford will head to Gold River, California, for the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships, Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30.