June 3, 2011

IRA Championships Central
Live Webcast Info

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - No. 2 Stanford lightweight women's rowing qualified both boats for Saturday's grand finals at the IRA Championships in Cherry Hill, N.J. Friday.

The I Eight will get the chance to go for a repeat national title in Saturday's Grand Final, which is set for a 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET) start. The Four will race in its Grand Final at 5:09 a.m. PT (8:09 a.m. ET).

The I Eight bulled its way to the day's fastest time in its class, winning the second heat in a time of 6:37.933, defeating Wisconsin, Bucknell and MIT. The Cardinal will face the Badgers and Bison again in tomorrow's Grand Final, along with top-ranked Princeton, Radcliffe and Georgetown.

In the Four class, Stanford won its heat with a final time of 7:52.514, besting Loyola (MD), Tulsa and MIT. The boat will race in tomorrow's Grand Final against Loyola (MD), MIT, Princeton, Radcliffe and Wisconsin.