Washington University
Ranked first, Washington enters the IRA with serious momentum. They claimed victories in both the Cal Dual and the MPSF Regatta, and recorded a blistering 5:38.1 at the Windermere Cup. The Huskies have now integrated several talented freshmen into the 3V lineup, which has noticeably boosted their speed. Known for depth across all varsity levels, Washington’s 3V is considered one of the fastest crews heading into the weekend.
Harvard University
Harvard has had an outstanding regular season and comes in undefeated. They showed tactical maturity at the Sarasota Invitational in early April, bouncing back from a narrow loss to Washington on day one to beat them by half a length on day two. Harvard also laid down the fastest 3V time of the year, 5:36.9, against Princeton. The crew has seen some movement, including the exclusion and promotion of Alex Grundy, a former Etonian and Henley Royal Regatta winner, who has since moved up to the varsity. Harvard’s depth and adaptability make them strong contenders.
Univeristy of California Berkley
Cal has been in the fight all season and will no doubt be in the mix at IRAs. Despite narrow losses to Washington by a length in both the Cal Dual and MPSF, they remain a quick and aggressive crew. With a number of high-potential freshmen expected to strengthen the lineup, they could close the gap. Watch out for standout athlete Dan Bradbery, having come down from the 2V.
Princeton University
Princeton has quietly put together a strong season, losing only to Harvard. They’ve consistently gone under 5:40 on their home course at Lake Carnegie and finished second at the Eastern Sprints, a key marker of speed this time of year. Their consistency and race experience make them a dangerous crew with podium potential.
Yale University
Yale took third at Eastern Sprints behind Harvard and Princeton. While they’ve flown a bit under the radar, wins over Dartmouth and Cornell in the regular season show they’re not to be overlooked. With time to find more speed between Sprints and IRAs, Yale could surprise if everything comes together.
Prediction
While I expect it to be a close showing, with recent movements in Harvard‘s crew, I expect the Washington Huskies to take gold, with the Crimson in silver and Cal rounding off the medal table.
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