WEST WINDSOR, New Jersey -  While Friday's heats featured fog, there was nothing but blue skies on Saturday   morning as the Cal men's rowing team put together another complete effort at the IRA National Championship Regatta on Mercer Lake. The Golden Bears sent all four boats through to Sunday's grand finals after finishing in the top three in each of their respective semifinals.  The day was highlighted by the second varsity eight,  who won its semifinal by nearly a length over second-place Washington. Cal is one of only two schools to send all four of their boats through to Sunday's grand finals.

Sunday marks the conclusion of the 2018 IRA Championships and will see both the team and event national champions crowned. The Bears medaled in three  events at the 2017 IRA Championship and finished fourth overall in the team points standings. Cal captured both the Varsity Challenge Cup and Ten Eyck Memorial Trophy in 2016, bringing the IRA team title back to Berkeley for the second time in program history and the first since 2006.

Due to inclement weather in the forecast, Sunday's grand finals are now slated to begin at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT with the varsity eight, followed by the second varsity eight at 7:51 a.m. ET/4:51 a.m. PT and third varsity eight at 7:58 a.m. ET/4:58 a.m.  PT. The grand final for the varsity four is slated  for 9:08 a.m. ET/6:08  a.m. PT. For the latest schedule and all other spectator information, visit the IRA Championships Central site.

Racing in beautiful conditions with just a slight breeze, Cal opened the morning with the varsity eight. The early stages of the race saw Cal, Washington, and Brown separate themselves from the rest of the field. While Brown and Washington edged out in front, Cal remained in close striking distance. The final 250 meters saw a fantastic sprint to the finish by the three leaders, with Washington crossing the line first and Brown just a few seats in front of Cal.

The second varsity eight saw a fantastic effort from the Bears from start to finish. Showing their power right off the line, the Bears jumped out in front of the field by almost three seats after the first 500 meters. Cal showed its composure, steadily adding to its advantage over the body of the race. The Bears stayed strong through the line and crossed first, nearly a full length ahead of second-place Washington.

Cal got out to another strong start in the third varsity eight, with the Bears establishing themselves as the early leaders after 500 meters. However, the Golden Bears were unable to hold off impressive surges at the 1.000-meter mark from both Washington and Northeastern. UW crossed the line first while Northeastern edged Cal for second by just a few seats. 

The Bears' last race of the morning saw the varsity four book its place in Sunday's grand final. Coming off an impressive performance, Cal established itself as one of the early leaders in Saturday's semifinal, pulling to the front of  the pack along with Princeton and Washington. After some jockeying for position around the midway  mark, it was another sprint to the finish between Washington and Cal, with the Huskies edging the Bears for first by less than a length.

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 2 Results
*Advanced to grand finals

 

Varsity 8+ - A/B Semifinal #1
1.	Washington*	5:37.124
2.	Brown*	5:38.879
3.	California*	5:39.057
4.	Northeastern	5:46.239
5.	Wisconsin	5:49.056
6.	Stanford	5:52.174
Second Varsity 8+ - A/B Semifinal #1
1.	California*	5:41.314
2.	Washington*	5:44.128
3.	Princeton*	5:47.495
4.	Brown	5:49.979
5.	Syracuse	5:50.395
6.	Cornell	6:09.100
Third Varsity 8+ - A/B Semifinal #1
1.	Washington*	5:50.155
2.	Northeastern*	5:52.505
3.	California*	5:53.016
4.	Princeton	5:54.943
5.	Wisconsin	5:57.606
6.	Brown	5:59.859
Varsity 4+ - A/B  Semifinal #2
1.	Washington*	6:26.013
2.	California*	6:27.943
3.	Princeton*	6:36:060
4.	Harvard	6:36.107
5.	Wisconsin	6:43.907
6.	Northeastern	6:45.758

Sunday Schedule (All times EST)
7:30 a.m. – Varsity 8+ Final
7:51 a.m. – Second Varsity 8+ Final
7:58 a.m. – Third Varsity 8+ Final
9:08 a.m. – Varsity 4+ Final