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‘Repping the Trees’ second-nature at Stanford
It’s all about team, with a budget to match, for the school near San Fran, while there’s a power shift east in the very top tier at the NCAA women’s rowing championship.
Strong westerly winds swept across Mercer Lake during the NCAA Championships.
Some crews struggled in the chop, others mastered it and set record times.
Stanford set the overall standard again, making Lucy Burrell (Baradene College) a back-to-back Division 1 champion in her last season in the States.
“It's a pretty cool way to go out...repping the trees down the course,” she says, referencing the famous Stanford crest.
Lucy rowed three seat in the A Final of the 2V Eight. They stood out in yesterday’s tough semifinals conditions and blitzed it again today, almost making it look easy.
“Oh, I don't know about that,” she says. “I feel like today was pretty much survival, but in this boat, like in the semi-final, we just have so much trust within each other.”
Stanford led from start to finish, crossing in 6m.13.07s.
“It's pretty cool when we get that boat running,” says Lucy. “[Especially] when we attack that front end and just go for it and bring the energy, it's a cool boat to be in.”
It’s a total team ethic at Stanford.
“ Honestly, for our team, it doesn't really matter how each individual boat goes. Yes, winning is cool and stuff, but ultimately, we just care about the team points.”
And that’s backed by the team budget.
“Everything we do is for the team and for everyone, not just the people that race at NCAAs,” says Lucy. “We fly the whole team out to this - the ones that aren't racing, we call them the Hype Squad and it was so cool to finish the race and row back up and just them cheering because we all worked for this.”
Olivia Hay heading out on the water ahead of the A Final of the 2V Eight, her last row for Washington. Photo SHARRON BENNETT Photography
It’s also the end of college rowing for the women’s captain at University of Washington, Olivia Hay (Glendowie College), and Shakira Mirfin (Southland Girls High School).
They finished less than two seconds behind Lucy’s Stanford crew in 6.14.93, with Princeton third (6.15.02).
Olivia spent the first three years of college at UCLA before moving north to Seattle.
“I never thought my journey would end up here...but I just feel this sense of pride to be part of Washington, I’ve created so many more memories here than I honestly could have ever imagined.”
Olivia will be back in New Zealand working to make the Summer Squad, hopefully with rival-turned-teammate Lucy Burrell.
Mackenzie Ealson (Dunstan High School) was in the Yale crew that finished fifth.
One of the big movers in the Washington ranks was Zola Kemp (Wellington Girls College), who in just her second year made the top boat.
“ I really did not expect I would ever be in this position coming here,” says Zola. “It’s really competitive but everyone is so supportive and you really get pushed.”
Washington were squeezed out of the placings in the A Final of the 1V Eight, finishing fifth, as the crown was swept east.
Last year’s winners, Texas were third in 6.09.84, behind Stanford (6.08.33) and new champions Yale 6.06.13.
The Tennessee crew, including Alice Fahey (Wellington Girls College), Meg Flanagan Marlborough Girls College) and Nicole Campbell (Nelson College for Girls), were fourth.
Tennessee’s 1V out on Mercer Lake with three New Zealand athletes in the crew. They eventually finished fourth in the A Final, with Yale, in the background, the new champions. Photo: SHARRON BENNETT Photography
Oregon State’s Charlotte Lightfoot (Queen Charlotte College) rowed in the C Final of the 1V Eight, finishing in fifth (6.26.07).
Indiana headed out for the C Final of the 2V Eight, with three New Zealand athletes aboard - Rea Kearns (Takapuna Grammar), Grace Langridge (Marian College) and Bridgette Sutton (Columba College).
Just three seconds separated all six boats at the 1000m but Indiana faded to finish sixth in 6.40.55.
New Zealand Under-19 rep from 2023, Kate Barham (Wellington East Girls College), stroked Boston in the D Final of 2V Eight. The Terriers were two seconds adrift of Oregon State at the 1000m, the margin opened to a length at the 1500m and they eventually finished two lengths back, Oregon winning in 6.41.16, Boston crossing in 6.47.97.
The A Final of the Varsity Fours featured Yale’s Eva Hofmans (Bayfield High School) and Washington’s Madeleine Parker (Napier Girls’ High).
Washington got up for second, Yale finished fourth.
Orla Fitzgerald (Christchurch Girls High School) rowed in three seat of the Brown crew in the B Final of the Varsity Fours, where they finished third.
It might be ‘so long Seattle’ for Olivia Hay, but the memories will stay forever.
“It's been such an honour,” says Olivia. “I'm sad that my time is ending but I’ll cherish these two years I've had here for the rest of my life.”
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and rowing coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
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- Home
- /
- University Rowing
- /
- ‘Repping the Trees’...
‘Repping the Trees’ second-nature at Stanford
It’s all about team, with a budget to match, for the school near San Fran, while there’s a power shift east in the very top tier at the NCAA women’s rowing championship.
Strong westerly winds swept across Mercer Lake during the NCAA Championships.
Some crews struggled in the chop, others mastered it and set record times.
Stanford set the overall standard again, making Lucy Burrell (Baradene College) a back-to-back Division 1 champion in her last season in the States.
“It's a pretty cool way to go out...repping the trees down the course,” she says, referencing the famous Stanford crest.
Lucy rowed three seat in the A Final of the 2V Eight. They stood out in yesterday’s tough semifinals conditions and blitzed it again today, almost making it look easy.
“Oh, I don't know about that,” she says. “I feel like today was pretty much survival, but in this boat, like in the semi-final, we just have so much trust within each other.”
Stanford led from start to finish, crossing in 6m.13.07s.
“It's pretty cool when we get that boat running,” says Lucy. “[Especially] when we attack that front end and just go for it and bring the energy, it's a cool boat to be in.”
It’s a total team ethic at Stanford.
“ Honestly, for our team, it doesn't really matter how each individual boat goes. Yes, winning is cool and stuff, but ultimately, we just care about the team points.”
And that’s backed by the team budget.
“Everything we do is for the team and for everyone, not just the people that race at NCAAs,” says Lucy. “We fly the whole team out to this - the ones that aren't racing, we call them the Hype Squad and it was so cool to finish the race and row back up and just them cheering because we all worked for this.”
Olivia Hay heading out on the water ahead of the A Final of the 2V Eight, her last row for Washington. Photo SHARRON BENNETT Photography
It’s also the end of college rowing for the women’s captain at University of Washington, Olivia Hay (Glendowie College), and Shakira Mirfin (Southland Girls High School).
They finished less than two seconds behind Lucy’s Stanford crew in 6.14.93, with Princeton third (6.15.02).
Olivia spent the first three years of college at UCLA before moving north to Seattle.
“I never thought my journey would end up here...but I just feel this sense of pride to be part of Washington, I’ve created so many more memories here than I honestly could have ever imagined.”
Olivia will be back in New Zealand working to make the Summer Squad, hopefully with rival-turned-teammate Lucy Burrell.
Mackenzie Ealson (Dunstan High School) was in the Yale crew that finished fifth.
One of the big movers in the Washington ranks was Zola Kemp (Wellington Girls College), who in just her second year made the top boat.
“ I really did not expect I would ever be in this position coming here,” says Zola. “It’s really competitive but everyone is so supportive and you really get pushed.”
Washington were squeezed out of the placings in the A Final of the 1V Eight, finishing fifth, as the crown was swept east.
Last year’s winners, Texas were third in 6.09.84, behind Stanford (6.08.33) and new champions Yale 6.06.13.
The Tennessee crew, including Alice Fahey (Wellington Girls College), Meg Flanagan Marlborough Girls College) and Nicole Campbell (Nelson College for Girls), were fourth.
Tennessee’s 1V out on Mercer Lake with three New Zealand athletes in the crew. They eventually finished fourth in the A Final, with Yale, in the background, the new champions. Photo: SHARRON BENNETT Photography
Oregon State’s Charlotte Lightfoot (Queen Charlotte College) rowed in the C Final of the 1V Eight, finishing in fifth (6.26.07).
Indiana headed out for the C Final of the 2V Eight, with three New Zealand athletes aboard - Rea Kearns (Takapuna Grammar), Grace Langridge (Marian College) and Bridgette Sutton (Columba College).
Just three seconds separated all six boats at the 1000m but Indiana faded to finish sixth in 6.40.55.
New Zealand Under-19 rep from 2023, Kate Barham (Wellington East Girls College), stroked Boston in the D Final of 2V Eight. The Terriers were two seconds adrift of Oregon State at the 1000m, the margin opened to a length at the 1500m and they eventually finished two lengths back, Oregon winning in 6.41.16, Boston crossing in 6.47.97.
The A Final of the Varsity Fours featured Yale’s Eva Hofmans (Bayfield High School) and Washington’s Madeleine Parker (Napier Girls’ High).
Washington got up for second, Yale finished fourth.
Orla Fitzgerald (Christchurch Girls High School) rowed in three seat of the Brown crew in the B Final of the Varsity Fours, where they finished third.
It might be ‘so long Seattle’ for Olivia Hay, but the memories will stay forever.
“It's been such an honour,” says Olivia. “I'm sad that my time is ending but I’ll cherish these two years I've had here for the rest of my life.”
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and rowing coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
