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Stanford defeated Texas and a Canadian National Team women’s eight decisively at the Longhorn Invite, April 25-26 in Austin, Texas, to establish The Cardinal as the clear favorite for the NCAA Division I Rowing Championships, May 30-June 1, on New Jersey’s Lake Mercer.
Defending IRA men’s heavyweight national champion Washington defeated rival Cal to retain the Schoch Cup in “The Dual” on Lake Washington, April 26. Washington’s women also defeated Cal to win the Simpson Cup.
“Stanford got the best of us, and they have a formidable team,” said Texas coach Dave O’Neill. “All of our crews felt like they rowed pretty well, but we simply got beat. I expected Stanford to be fast, and they have definitely set the standard for all of us to match this year.”
“That was quite a race,” said Washington men’s head coach Michael Callahan after the Huskies came from behind to catch and pass Cal in last strokes of the race. “It was probably one of the better Cal Duals I’ve ever experienced, start to finish. I don’t know if we were ever separated by more than maybe a second and a quarter.”
“It’s disappointing to lose a race that means a lot to both of our programs,” Cal head coach Scott Frandsen said. “It was right there, and it was close. How we respond and the speed that we can find over the next couple of weeks will define how the rest of our season goes.”
Washington and Cal have combined to win 18 last 25 IRA National Championships—nine each.
The IRA National Championship, May 30-June 1 on the Cooper River near Camden, N.J., will also decide the men’s and women’s lightweight national champions. Harvard remains the men’s clear favorite, after continuing an undefeated season by besting number two Princeton and number six Yale for the both the Goldthwait Cup (for first varsity eights) and the Vogel Cup (for team points). Princeton remain the favorite to win an unprecedented fourth-straight women’s national championship after beating Georgetown to win the Class of 2006 Cup, setting a course record in the process.
“It’s always a good day when the eight sets a new course record, but our boats can all go faster and we are eager to pick up more speed,” said Princeton lightweight head coach Paul Rassam. “We had one senior in each boat today and we are so happy that they could finish up their home racing careers with a win.”
