June 2, 2012

IRA Championships Results

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - Stanford's men's II Eight finished sixth in the Grand Final to highlight the Cardinal effort at the IRA Championships Saturday on the Cooper River.

It was the highest national finish in the Cardinal II Eight's history.

The I Eight and Frosh Eight each competed in their class' Third Final, with each boat taking second in the race, finishing 14th overall.

"The varsity eight raced well, clocking the eighth fastest varsity eight time today," said Stanford men's rowing head coach Craig Amerkhanian. "Our second varsity left everything on the river yesterday and finished sixth in the nation. Our frosh learned valuable lessons finishing second in the third level final. A good day for our team and men. A great day for our lightweight women. Al, Maddie and the women rocked."

The Cardinal II Eight matched up against the nation's elite in its first Grand Final experience. Battling its way down the 2,000-meter course, the Cardinal men crossed the line sixth, in a time of 5:54.096. Washington would capture the win, followed by Brown.

The I Eight quickly found its way into the lead pack of four in the Third Final. It boiled down to the Cardinal and Northeastern as the line approached, but it was Northeastern that would cross first in a time of 5:32.953, just over two seconds ahead of Stanford's 5:35.120.

Stanford's time was the eighth-best amongst all I Eight boats Saturday, and was faster than every boat in the Petite Final.

The Frosh Eight found itself in a two-boat race in its Third Final, battling it out with Syracuse much of the way. At the line, it would be the Orange taking the race in a time of 5:51.157, just ahead of Stanford's 5:53.614.