April 6, 2008

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The two-time defending Copley Cup Champion, Stanford Cardinal, fought with spirit and strength today in the grand final of the San Diego Crew Classic Copley Cup. Racing defending national champion Washington and a field that included the nations elite rowing teams the Cardinal finished in 5:44.38 which kept them 4.5 seconds behind the winning Washington crew. The dramatic photo finish of Harvard, Cal, Northeastern and Stanford was for positions 3 through 6.

Coach Craig Amerkhanian was proud of his team and the early season showing. "With the exception of Wisconsin and Brown, we have now raced all the nation's best over the past two weekends. Our team is securely positioned for an outstanding season as we proved to ourselves that we belong among the best crews in collegiate rowing".

In other men's results, the Stanford frosh finished third behind winner Washington and runner-up Cal. The second varsity finished fifth. The Cardinal's next race is against Wisconsin on April 19 at the Stanford Invitational held at Redwood Shores.

For all race results go to crewclassic.org

notes: Three Stanford alumnae competed in the U.S. national pair speed orders in New Jersey this weekend. David Baker-Banks, Jake Cornelius and Donny Simkin all made the finals.