WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The No. 4 Boston University lightweight rowing program concluded the 2024 IRA National Championship Regatta with a third-place team finish on Sunday (June 2) at Mercer Lake.
 
BU earned its first team bronze medal since 2015, and has finished inside the top-three in every full IRA Championship since that year.
 
The Lightweight Double powered the Terriers with a gold medal in the Grand Final, earning the first-place result to give the team four gold medals in the entry in its history. BU's Lightweight 4 also captured the silver medal in the Grand Final, marking the third occurrence in program history and first since 2021.
 
BU finished with 61 points in the regatta. Princeton defended its national championship with 67 team points, while Stanford was second with 66. Harvard-Radcliffe was fourth at 48 points.
 
Though more clouds decorated the sky on Sunday compared to the first two days, temperatures remained in the 70s as humidity rolled in throughout the morning. Waters remained flat, with very little wind gusts during the races.
 
BU's Lightweight 2x started the day in the Grand Final. The duo of Kylie Lough and Caroline Burchette led wire-to-wire, gaining a small open water lead in the first 500 meters and cruising to a finish in 7:35.007, over five seconds ahead of the runner-up Tigers.
 
In the Lightweight 4 Grand Final, BU, coxed by Rayna Kuthiala and stroked by Nina Palmer, held an early lead in the opening quarter of the course. The Terriers held a short lead over Princeton throughout, but a strong piece from the Cardinal gave them the win, as BU crossed the line second with a time of 7:23.117. That was under four seconds behind Stanford, but nearly two over the Tigers.
 
The day wrapped up with the Lightweight 8 Grand Final. The Terriers, coxed by Heather Shinn and stroked by Maecy Rickman, took over Georgetown before the 1,000-meter mark. BU looked to gain on third-place Harvard, but completed the course in 6:46.080 for a fourth-place result.
 
BU will graduate seven seniors from the program as it closes the 2024 spring season, turning the page to the fall semester.
 
RESULTS
 
Lightweight 2x Grand Final

1. BU – 7:35.007
2. Princeton – 7:40.114
3. Oklahoma Ctiy – 7:44.337
4. Stanford – 7:45.560
5. Georgetown – 7:47.737
6. MIT – 7:56.287

Lightweight 4+ Grand Final

1. Stanford – 7:19.910
2. BU – 7:23.117
3. Princeton – 7:24.783
4. MIT – 7:25.710
5. Wisconsin – 7:26.187
6. Harvard-Radcliffe – 7:29.217

Lightweight 8+ Grand Final

1. Princeton – 6:35.190
2. Stanford – 6:37.060
3. Harvard-Radcliffe – 6:38.880
4. BU – 6:46.080
5. Georgetown – 6:52.483
6. Wisconsin – 6:57.033 

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Princeton – 67 points
2. Stanford – 66
3. BU – 61
4. Harvard-Radcliffe – 48
5. Georgetown – 33
6. Wisconsin – 43
7. MIT – 25
8. Gordon – 15
9. Oklahoma City – 10

LINEUPS
 
Lightweight 2x
Stroke: Caroline Burchette
Bow: Kylie Lough
 
Lightweight 4+
Cox: Rayna Kuthiala
Bow: Maya Popper
2: Cece Mason
3: Carly Milosevic
Stroke: Nina Palmer
 
Lightweight 8+
Cox: Heather Shinn
Stroke: Maecy Rickman
7: Mia Seibert
6: Zoey Goodness
5: Ela Ersan
4: Natalie Erb
3: Lulu Smith
2: Charlotte Duan
Bow: Hannah Clark