PENNSAUKEN, N.J. – Despite windy and choppy conditions on Cooper River Lake, Stanford’s varsity eights recorded their fastest times of the year while each finishing fifth in their semifinal heats at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on Saturday.
The Cardinal eights will row in B finals on Sunday to fight for places seventh through 12th.
Stanford completed action in the fours by placing fourth in the C Final in 6:29.57. By placing 16th overall, the Stanford fours improved by three positions over last year and recorded their highest finish since 2021 when they were 14th.
The conditions played a huge role in Stanford’s 1V8+ semifinal. From Lane 1, the Cardinal may have been more affected than their competitors by racing in an unprotected lane. However, the biggest effect came when No. 1-ranked Cal was battling Harvard for the lead and caught a crab with 100 meters to go and came to a dead stop, allowing every boat to pass, including Stanford’s.
Stanford’s time of 5:34.37 was its best of the year, bettering the 5:34.6 that it recorded while edging Syracuse at the Redwood Shores Challenge on April 13. Syracuse was the surprise of Saturday’s semifinals, placing second and earning passage to the Grand Final.
The Stanford 2V8+ boat also had a season best. Its time of 5:37.65 improved upon its 5:43.1 against Washington in the Cal/Stanford Invitational at Redwood Shores on April 5.
Both times, by the Cardinal 1V8+ and 2V8+ boats, were the program’s fastest in years.
IRA Championships
At Cooper River Park
Saturday’s results
1V8+
AB Semifinal 1 – 1, Harvard 5:24.14; 2, Syracuse 5:27.04; 3, Princeton 5:30.06; 4, Northeastern 5:30.98; 5, Stanford 5:34.37; 6, California 5:42.53. Stanford to B Final.
2V8+
AB Semifinal 1 – 1, Washington 5:26.90; 2, Harvard 5:26.90; 3, Yale 5:28.74; 4, Northeastern 5:29.13; 5, Stanford 5:37.65; 6, Dartmouth 5:41.40. Stanford to B Final.
1V4+
C Final – 1, Marist 6:27.44; 2, Stetson 6:29.42; 3, FIT 6:31.40; 4, Stanford 6:34.57; 5, Cornell 6:37.63; 6, Oklahoma City 6:42.80. Stanford places 16th overall.
Stanford’s Schedule (Pacific time)
Sunday
8 a.m.: 2V8+ Final 2 – Lanes: 1, Boston University; 2, Stanford; 3, Princeton; 4, Northeastern; 5, Pennsylvania; 6, Dartmouth.
8:50 a.m.: 1V8+ Final 2 – Lanes: 1, Navy; 2, Stanford; 3, Yale; 4, Northeastern; 5, Pennsylvania; 6, California.
Lineups
1V8+
C: Gabrielle Zammit
8: Tom Corbett
7: James Pullinger
6: James Fetter
5: Elliott Donovan-Davies
4: Max Shakespeare
3: Adrien Richez
2: Gabriel George
1: Luke Smith
2V8+
C: Kannan Alford
8: Arthur Scott
7: Hylton Harvey
6: Maxim Ericson
5: Sandro Scalfi
4: Caspar Griffin
3: Callen Berwick
2: Leopold Hainlein
1: Philip Wolfensberger
1V4+
C: Noah Tan
4: Andrew Orio
3: John Salvi
2: Charlie Vachris
1: Theo Herzog