Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
IRA National Championship Regatta
Bucknell's Lightweight Eight Wins Silver Medal at IRA Regatta to Equal Second-Best Finish in Program History
6/2/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
June 2, 2012
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (Cooper River) - Bucknell women's rowing's lightweight eight was making its seventh consecutive appearance in the Grand Final of the IRA National Championship Regatta Saturday morning and the Bison ended up equaling the second-best showing in program history. Bucknell finished second in the six-boat field to three-time champion Stanford.
The Bison posted a time of 6 minutes, 33.736 seconds to cross the line just over 2.5 seconds behind the Cardinal, which captured its third straight title. The top four boats in the field were separated by less than 5.5 seconds. Radcliffe and Wisconsin placed third and fourth, respectively, while Princeton and Georgetown were fifth and sixth.
Especially impressive about Bucknell's performance Saturday was overtaking Wisconsin. Three weeks ago at the Eastern Sprints, the Bison finished in second place to the Badgers, more than four seconds back. Saturday, Bucknell crossed the finish line nearly three seconds ahead of Wisconsin, making it a seven-second difference in a span of just a few weeks.
Bucknell's silver medal equaled the second-best performance in school annals. The Bison won the IRA crown in 2007 and finished second in 2009. Bucknell had finished fifth each of the last two years.
The Bison earned a spot in the Grand Final thanks to a second-place showing to Stanford in Friday morning's heat. Bucknell trimmed more than 1:22 off its time in the heat.
Bucknell, Georgetown, Princeton, Radcliffe, Stanford and Wisconsin have made up the six-boat Grand Final at the IRA Regatta each of the last six years. Wisconsin and Stanford have each won three crowns and Bucknell one since the Bison started competing at the event in 2006.
Varsity Lightweight Eight Results
Heat 2 (top 2 to Grand Final) (Friday)
1. Stanford - 7:42.575
2. Bucknell - 7:55.965
3. Princeton - 8:21.263
4. MIT - 8:36.751
Grand Final (Saturday)
1. Stanford - 6:31.141
2. Bucknell - 6:33.736
3. Radcliffe - 6:35.479
4. Wisconsin - 6:36.636
5. Princeton - 6:47.108
6. Georgetown - 6:50.789
Bucknell Lightweight Eight Results at IRA National Championship Regatta
2006: 6th
2007: 1st
2008: 4th
2009: 2nd
2010: 5th
2011: 5th
2012: 2nd
