GOLD RIVER, Calif. - Stanford produced its fifth consecutive Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) team national championship on Sunday afternoon at the Lake Natoma course.
Backed by victories from its Varsity Eight and Varsity Four, Stanford has now maintained ownership of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders Trophy since 2015. The Cardinal has claimed nine IRA national team championships overall, the most in the history of the sport and four more than the next closest competitor (Wisconsin).
Head coach Kate Bertko has guided the Cardinal to three straight national championships (2016-18) in her first three seasons at the helm.
The victory continues an unprecedented run of success for Stanford Athletics, which has captured seven national championships overall during the 2018-19 campaign, a haul that includes NCAA crowns in women's volleyball, women's swimming, men's gymnastics, women's water polo, women's tennis and men's golf. The six NCAA titles matches the record for an academic year, with the Cardinal also winning six back in 1996-97.
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— Stanford Lights (@StanfordLwtCrew) June 2, 2019
Stanford varsity teams have won 149 national championships (73 men, 76 women) and 123 NCAA championships (66 men, 57 women). Since 2000, the Cardinal has captured 47 NCAA crowns and 62 national team championships overall.
The Cardinal opened Sunday's final day of competition with a fifth-place effort in the Double Grand Final, clocking in at 8:00.499. Boston University took home gold in the event with a time of 7:51.794.
In the Varsity Four Grand Final, Stanford paced the field with a mark of 7:12.848. Runner-up Boston University (7:19.504) and Wisconsin (7:25.798) rounded out the podium finishes.
Stanford clinched its IRA team victory in the day's final race, checking in at 6:32.825 in the Varsity Eight Grand Final. Right behind the Cardinal were runner-up Princeton (6:37.335) and third-place Boston University (6:40.462).
The Cardinal carried over its momentum from Saturday, when the Varsity Eight and Varsity Four both placed first in their races for lane positioning.
2019 IRA National Team Championship Results
| Event | Team | Team | Team | Team | Team | Team | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double | 1. Boston (7:51.794) | 2. Georgetown (7:55.439) | 3. Wisconsin (7:56.169) | 4. Princeton (7:58.281) | 5. Stanford (8:00.499) | 6. Radcliffe (8:17.374) | 7. MIT (8:30.386) |
| Varsity Four | 1. Stanford (7:12.848) | 2. Boston (7:19.504) | 3. Wisconsin (7:25.798 | 4. Radcliffe (7:32.598) | 5. Georgetown (7:36.553) | 6. Princeton (7:45.843) | 7. MIT (7:57.789) |
| Varsity Eight | 1. Stanford (6:32.825) | 2. Princeton (6:37.335) | 3. Boston (6:40.462) | 4. Wisconsin (6:43.100) | 5. Georgetown (6:44.263) | 6. Radcliffe (6:48.508) | 7. MIT (7:06.993) |
Double: Isabella Duan, Savannah Ardrey
Varsity Four: Tiffany Ong (Coxswain), Kate Hickey (4), Hillary Umphrey (3), Diba Massihpour (2), Serena Harber (Bow)
Varsity Eight: Allison Tielking (Coxswain), Martha Yates (8), Samantha Dore (7), Michele Holtkamp (6), Johanna Francis (5), Ally Hinson (4), Brigitte Schmittlein (3), Claire Smythe (2), Emily Molins (Bow)