WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — The University of Washington’s historically rich men’s rowing program reached new heights Sunday on Lake Mercer, becoming the first program ever to win five consecutive Intercollegiate Rowing Association men’s varsity eight national titles, while also sweeping all five heavyweight championship races for just the third time in regatta history.
The Huskies won the varsity eight, second varsity eight, third varsity eight, freshman eight and varsity four, marking the team’s third five-race sweep in the past four years. The UW also did it in 2012 and 2013. No other program has accomplished a five-race sweep in the history of the IRA Regatta, which was first run in 1895.
Including heats and semifinals, Washington won 14 out of 14 races at the IRAs.
In the feature race, the varsity eight, Washington posted a boat-length win over rival California, winning with a time of 5 minutes, 28.015 seconds. The Huskies crossed the finish line 2.783 seconds in front of the Bears. Washington led the entire way to earn its fifth straight crown. Washington has now won 18 Varsity Challenge Cups, including seven in the past nine years.
“I think we just nailed it,” seventh-year UW head coach Michael Callahan said. “We wanted to take control of the race right away, and even if they were going to come with us, we wanted to press the pace of the race. I was surprised to see us with such a commanding lead so early.
“Before the race, I said, ‘Look, no one really knows how fast you are, so go out and lay down the best piece of work you’ve done all year. I think they did that.”
The Huskies led from the start in the varsity eight. The crew sprinted the final 500 meters to hold of the Bears and Princeton, who finished a narrow third to Cal.
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