Princeton University Athletics
Lightweight Women Open Championship Hunt Friday At IRAs
June 03, 2010 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight
After winning a silver medal at the 2010 EAWRC championships, the Princeton women's lightweight crew knew it would take an even greater effort to take the top spot at this weekend's IRA national championships. That competition will begin Friday morning at 8:45 a.m.
Princeton fell to top-ranked Wisconsin in the EAWRC final, held on the same Cooper River course that is hosting the 2010 IRA championship regatta. While dethroning Wisconsin will be a major challenge itself, Princeton will also see a tough rival in second-ranked Stanford; the Cardinal defeated Princeton early in the regular season, but did not compete in the Eastern championships three weeks ago.
Princeton will get its first test against the second-ranked Stanford in Friday's second semifinal heat. The Tigers, ranked third nationally, will race in lane four, while Stanford will be next to them in lane three. Both Bucknell and MIT, two opponents Princeton defeated in both the regular season and in the EAWRC final, will start in the two outside lanes.
Defeating Stanford Friday won't be as important as placing second, which would guarantee Princeton a spot in the national final (Saturday, 11:15 a.m.). Should Princeton finish third, it will race in a 12:45 p.m. repechage Friday and need a top-two finish to secure a spot in the grand final.
Georgetown, Wisconsin, Radcliffe and Tulsa will compete in the first heat, which will open Friday's session of the IRA championships.
The Princeton V4 will also compete in the second semifinal heat Friday. Scheduled for a 9:15 a.m. start, Princeton will need a top-two finish against MIT, Loyola and Wisconsin to advance to the grand final (Saturday, 8:24 a.m.). Princeton defeated both MIT and Wisconsin by more than 20 seconds in winning the EAWRC 4s title.