No. 1 Women's Lightweight Rowing Wins Second Straight IRA Team Title; Collects Three Golds

Sunday, June 4

West Windsor, N.J.

Princeton University

IRA National Championships

Varsity Eight - IRA Gold Medal

Photo by: ©Row2K Media

No. 1 Women's Lightweight Rowing Wins Second Straight IRA Team Title; Collects Three Golds

June 04, 2023 | Women's Rowing - Lightweight

WEST WINDSOR – The No. 1 Princeton Women's Lightweight Rowing Team continued its dominance, collecting three golds and the IRA Commissioner's Cup on Sunday morning at Mercer Lake.

The double pairing of Amelia Boehle and Kasey Shashaty won their second straight IRA gold medal to begin the action. Radcliffe got off to an early start, clearing the field by over three seconds in the first 500m, but by the time the boats reached the 1,000m point, the Tigers were back in front. By 1,500m, it was a four-second lead for Boehle and Shashaty and the two crossed the line at 7:37.79. Radcliffe was second at 7:42.26 with Boston in third at 7:50.54.

Princeton's varsity four continue the team's winning ways, crossing the line at 7:28.74. The group of Elena Every, Claire Brockman, Nathalie Verlinde, Emma Mirrer and Bonnie Pushner led throughout, pacing MIT by 1.4 seconds with 500m to go. The Engineers made one more push, but the Tigers held them off, earning a 0.8-second decision.

The Tigers' varsity eight came out fast, leading the field by over two seconds 500m in. At the halfway mark, the advantage had stretched to six seconds and Princeton boat of Margaret Murphy, Sarah Fry, Lily Feinerman, Cecilia Sommerfeld, Kalena Blake, Daisy Devore, Hannah Höselbarth, Lina Schwartz and Sarah Polson were never threatened the rest of the way. Princeton finished with a 6:40.03, 6.2 seconds ahead of Stanford (6:46.31). It's the varsity eight's third consecutive IRA gold medal. That boat has not lost to another lightweight boat since the 2019 IRA Championships.

Princeton finished with 72 points, 15 clear of Boston for the team title and IRA Commissioner's Cup. It's the second straight year that the Tigers have recorded the most points.

With the Princeton's men's lightweight national title, it marks the second time the same school has won both Lightweight National Championships (1997, Harvard/Radcliffe).