STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford concluded the 2019 campaign by producing its fifth consecutive Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) team national championship on June 2 at the Lake Natoma course in Gold River, California.
Make It FiveBacked by victories from its Varsity Eight and Varsity Four, Stanford has now maintained ownership of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders Trophy every year 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).
Stanford opened the 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, the Cardinal 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.
The victory continues an unprecedented run of success for Stanford Athletics, which captured seven national championships overall during the 2018-19 campaign, a haul that included 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 matched the record for an academic year, with the Cardinal also winning six back in 1996-97.
??????????#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/YZWF0NxAZl
— Stanford Lights (@StanfordLwtCrew) June 2, 2019
Bertko Perfect In Three SeasonsHead coach Kate Bertko has now guided the Cardinal to three straight national championships (2016-18) in her first three seasons at the helm.
Bertko, one of the United States' most decorated lightweight rowers and a 2016 Olympian, completed her third season as head coach of the Cardinal lightweight rowing program in 2019. A seven-year member of the National Team, she was named the 2013 USRowing Female Athlete of the Year.
In the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bertko competed in the United States lightweight women's double sculls, leading the U.S. to a 10th-place finish.
A four-time medalist on the international level, Bertko captured the silver medal in the lightweight women's double sculls at the 2013 World Championships and the bronze medal in the lightweight women's single sculls at both the 2014 and 2015 World Championships. She also led the U.S. to the silver medal in the women's open quadruple sculls at the 2009 World Championships. Bertko has competed in six World Championship regattas overall, also representing the U.S. in 2010 and 2011. She also set a course record, en route to a gold medal in the single sculls at the 2013 Head of the Charles.
Take a look back at @StanfordLwtCrew's fifth straight IRA title through the lens of the ?? that day.#GoStanford https://t.co/gL0HI5QCX6
— Stanford Athletics (@GoStanford) June 11, 2019
WIRA Championships Recap
Stanford featured four boats competing in the Grand Final races of this year's WIRA Championships.
Stanford's double and first varsity eight boats both placed first in their respective finals.
The Cardinal placed fifth in the second varsity eight Grand Final and sixth in the varsity four Grand Final.
Great racing at WIRAs last weekend. Home duals up next weekend! #GoStanford
A post shared by Stanford Lightweight Rowing (@stanfordlwtcrew) on May 3, 2019 at 2:47pm PDT