The University of Washington added another amazing chapter to its storied rowing tradition by three-peating as men’s national champions at the 111th annual IRA National Championships which concluded Sunday on Lake Natoma in Gold River, CA. The No. 1-ranked Huskies finished a perfect weekend by sweeping all five Grand Finals for their 16th overall national crown.
Washington becomes the first school to three-peat at nationals since rival California captured four in a row from 1999-02.
Until last year, no crew had ever won five Grand Finals en route to a national championship. Washington has now done it back-to-back.
In the Varsity 8+ Grand Final, Washington finished first, clocking 5:39.68, winning by open water over runnerup Harvard, which clocked 5:42.25. Brown finished third in 5:42.72.
In the Second Varsity 8+ Grand Final, the Huskies scored a three-second victory over Brown, hitting the line in 5:51.7 to Brown’s 5:54.16. California came in third at 5:54.78.
Washington posted a five-second victory in the Freshman 8+ Grand Final, scoring a 5:52.77 to 5:57.73 victory over Brown with Cal third in 5:58.73.
In the Varsity 4+ final, Washington defeated California 6:28.49 to 6:28.79. That was UW’s narrowest victory of the regatta. Washington also won the Open 4+ title, recording a 6:30.70 to Northeastern’s 6:32.01.
