WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – After three years of knocking on the door for an IRA National Championship, the Columbia lightweight varsity eight reached the top of the podium with a dominating performance Sunday on Lake Mercer. It is the first IRA lightweight national title for the Lions and the first for any Columbia varsity eight crew since 1929.

It is the first lightweight varsity eight national title since 1928.

Columbia's lightweight varsity four earned a runner-up finish in the grand final, marking the third consecutive year they have medaled. The Lions strong performances earned them a first place team finish based on the combined results of the varsity eight and varsity four.

In the all-Ivy League grand final, Columbia's varsity came out of the gates strong and held a three-seat lead 750-meters in over No. 1 Yale and extended the margin to a length at the midway point. The Lions held a brief open-water advantage around the 1,250 marker before the Bulldogs made one final push in the last 500. However, Columbia kicked into high-gear down the stretch and came away with a six-seat triumph.

The Lions led for the first portion in the varsity four but was overtaken by Georgetown 1,000 meters into the race. Despite staying within striking distance, Columbia could not catch up to the Hoyas and was edged by three seconds.

The lightweights rounded out the weekend with a fifth place performance in the grand final of the coxswain-less varsity four.

HEAVYWEIGHT RECAP
Columbia's heavyweight varsity weight took third in the petite final for a ninth place overall finish to start the morning. The Lions were in the back of the pack to start, but kicked into gear at the 1,000-meter mark and pushed strong to the finish and posted a time of 5:54.7.

In the second varsity eight, Columbia took fifth in the petite final with a time of 6:04.5.

The Lions' varsity four posted a time of 6:46.6 to place third in the third level final.