WEST WINDSOR, New Jersey -  Neither rain nor fog could slow the Cal men's rowing team on Friday morning as the Golden Bears opened their racing at the 116^th Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship Regatta on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey. The Golden Bears sent all four of their boats onto Saturday's A/B semifinals, winning their heats in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, and third varsity eight. After taking second in their opening heat in the varsity four, the Bears put together an impressive performance in the afternoon repechage to secure their spot in Saturday's semifinal.

The A/B semifinals kick off at 8:45 a.m. ET/5:45 a.m. PT with the varsity eight and will conclude with the varsity four around 10:45 a.m. ET/7:45 a.m. PT. The top three boats from each of the A/B semifinals will advance to Sunday's grand final with a chance to race for a national title.

For timing and real time updates throughout the weekend, visit the IRA Championships Central site.

The Cal men's rowing team will wrap up the 2017-18 season this weekend when the 116^th Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship Regatta begins Friday morning at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey. The Golden Bears' varsity eight, second varsity eight, third varsity eight, and varsity four will be racing in the three-day regatta, looking to help the Bears to their second national title in the last three seasons. The Bears won the Varsity Challenge Cup at the 2016 IRA Championships – also hosted on Mercer Lake – while also claiming the Ten Eyck Trophy with the most team points overall.

The varsity eight set the tone for Cal in the Bears' first race of the competition. After jumping out to an early lead in the first 500 meters, Cal remained steady down the course, slowly adding to its advantage over second-place Princeton. The Bears crossed the line in a final time of 5:40.191, the fastest by any crew in Friday's morning session.

The second varsity eight followed suit soon after in their heat, establishing themselves as the early leaders. Cal and second-place Northeastern steadily pulled away from the rest of the pack over the middle 1,000 meters and the Bears crossed the finish list in first by several seats.

In the third varsity eight, the Bears were able to once again able to emerge from a crowded field. Cal established a solid lead and was able to hold off a late charge by Boston University, topping the Terriers by nearly a length. 

Cal's final race of the morning saw the Bears battle it out with their west coast rival, Washington, in the varsity four. While the Huskies ultimately crossed the finish first, sending the second-place Bears into the afternoon repechage.

Competing in the final race of the day, the Bears varsity four made a statement in the  repechage, jumping out to an open water lead by the 500 meter mark. From then on the Bears steadily added to their advantage with an impressive performance from start to finish to win the rep.

All racing at the IRA Championships will be streamed live by USRowing on YouTube with live results also available online. Fans can also follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalMRowing), Instagram (@CalMRowing), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalMRowing) for updates throughout the weekend.


Day 1 Results
*Automatically advanced to A/B Semifinals

 

Varsity 8+ - Heat #3
1.	California*	5:40.191
2.	Princeton*	5:43.642
3.	Dartmouth	5:48.646
4.	Wisconsin	5:54.745
5.	FIT	6:00.861
6.	Marist	6:02.295
Second Varsity 8+ - Heat #2
1.	California*	5:44.308
2.	Northeastern*	5:46.540
3.	Cornell	5:59.793
4.	George Washington	6:00.183
5.	UCSD	6:09.693
6.	FIT	6:15.631
Third Varsity 8+ - Heat #3
1.	California*	5:53.165
2.	Boston University*	5:55.034
3.	Brown	5:55.034
4.	George Washington	6:08.476
5.	UCSD	6:20.418
Varsity 4+ - Heat #4
1.	Washington*	6:26.658
2.	California	6:29.856
3.	Holy Cross	6:37.644
4.	Boston University	6:39.004
5.	Harvard	6:42.097
6.	Fairfield	7:01.876
Varsity 4+ - Repechage #4
1.	California*	6:35.657
2.	Brown*	6:44.383
3.	Jacksonville	6:47.310
4.	Milwaukee	6:49.703
5.	Fairfield	6:53.572

Saturday Schedule (All times EST)
8:45 a.m. – Varsity 8+ A/B Semifinal #1
8:55 a.m. – Varsity 8+ A/B Semifinal #2
9:25 a.m. – Second V8+ A/B Semifinal #1
9:35 a.m. – Second V8+ A/B Semifinal #2
10:15 a.m. – Third V8+ A/B Semifinal #1
10:25 a.m. – Third V8+ A/B Semifinal #2
10:35 a.m. – Varsity 4+ A/B Semifinal #1
10:45 a.m. – Varsity 4+ A/B Semifinal #2