WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Stanford regained its place among the top women's lightweight rowing teams in the country by placing second in the Commissioner's Cup standings on Sunday at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships at Mercer Lake.
Stanford, by placing among the top four in all three events, was second as a team, scoring 66 points to 67 for first-place Princeton. The place was Stanford's best since winning its fifth consecutive Commissioner's Cup in 2019.
That doesn't mean the Cardinal didn't take home a title. Stanford crushed the competition in the 4+ grand final. The team of Marrisa Chow (coxswain), Brooke Legenzowski (stroke), Lauren Koester (No. 3), Elle Rosenfeld (No. 2), and Lauren Howe (bow) earned a 3.2-second victory over runner-up Boston University.
The Cardinal covered the 2,000-meter course in 7:19.910 on the way to capturing its first championship in that event since 2021 and sixth overall. Stanford took the lead right away and powered through the fastest splits for each of the first three 500s.
Maddie Lloyd was the bow on that 2021 winner and Lydia Garnett was the coxswain. On Sunday, they again combined for a top performance, as part of the Cardinal team that placed second in the Varsity Eight grand final.
Stanford, with Anna Meurer at stroke and Jordan Stock at bow, reeled off a time of 6:37.060 to finish just behind Princeton in 6:35.190.
Stanford did not get off to the best of starts, but gained some ground on Princeton over the final half of the race while pulling away from third-place Radcliffe.
The Cardinal double sculls team of Hannah Peters at stroke and Sophia Ramaraju at bow emerged from Lane One to finish fourth in its Grand Final. Stanford clocked 7:45.560 to start the day with the program's best finish in that event since 2021.
Overall, it was an outstanding team performance under first-year associate head coach Lizzy Houston.
The Cardinal Varsity Eight. Photo by Stockton Photo.
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IRA Championships
At Mercer Lake
Stanford results
Commissioner's Cup standings leaders
1, Princeton 67; 2, Stanford 66; 3, Boston U. 61; 4, Radcliffe 48; 5, Georgetown 44.
Varsity 2x Grand Final
1, Boston U. 7:35.007; 2, Princeton 7:40.114; 3, Oklahoma City 7:44.337; 4, Stanford 7:45.560; 5, Georgetown 7:47.737; 6, MIT 7:56.287.
Varsity 4+ Grand Final
1, Stanford 7:19.910; 2, Boston U. 7:23.117; 3, Princeton 7:24.783; 4, MIT 7:25.710; 5, Wisconsin 7:26.187; 6, Radcliffe 7:29.217.
Varsity 8+ Grand Final
1, Princeton 6:35.190; 2, Stanford 6:37.060; 3, Radcliffe 6:38.880; 4, Boston U. 6:46.080; 5, Georgetown 6:52.483; 6, Wisconsin 6:57.033.
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Lineups
Varsity 2x
2: Hannah Peters
1: Sophia Ramaraju
Varsity 4+
C: Marrisa Chow
4: Brooke Legenzowski
3: Lauren Koester
2: Elle Rosenfeld
1: Lauren Howe
Varsity 8+
C: Lydia Garnett
8: Anna Meurer
7: Emily Molins
6: Maddie Lloyd
5: Juliette Lermusiaux
4: Brooke Ruszkiewicz
3: Grace Padula
2: Hannah Justicz
1: Jordan Stock