Slideshow Stanford’s Varsity Eight. Photo by StanfordPhoto.com Previous Next

Top-ranked and defending IRA champion Stanford lightweight rowing saw all three of its boats advance to Sunday's Grand Finals at the 2016 IRA Championships Saturday morning on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.

The lightweight eight and lightweight four won their heats by open water, while the lightweight double placed second in its heat Saturday. All three boats will race for a National Championship Sunday morning.

Stanford's top boat wasted little time surging to the front of the field in its heat. The lightweight eight opened with two-seat advantage on Wisconsin and grew it to a half a length over the Badgers by 500 meters. The Cardinal built an open-water lead on the field at the 750-meter mark and never looked back, en route to the heat victory. Stanford completed the course in 6:35.320, over second-place Wisconsin's time 6:49.720.

The lightweight four left little doubt in its heat as well, building an open-water lead on the field by 750 meters. Stanford, which led consistently from the start, finished the heat with a time of 7:33.270, ahead of second-place Massachusetts (7:39.910).

Stanford's lightweight double opened with a lead in the first 250 meters of its heat. However, Boston made a move to surge past the Cardinal at 500 meters. The Terriers opened a two-thirds of a length lead at the midpoint of the course. Boston (7:42.630) went on to win the heat, while the Cardinal (7:50.220) finished the race in second with an open-water advantage over third-place Radcliffe (8:00.050).