A second-place finish in the semifinals on Friday could lead to a grand finale on Saturday as Stanford's First Varsity Eight boat qualified for Sunday's Grand Final by finishing a little over two second behind Washington in its heat of the IRA National Championships at Lake Natoma.

The Huskies went 5:53.146 to win the race, while Stanford followed in 5:55.696. California, Harvard, Navy and Princeton also qualified. The Bears again had the day's fastest time at 5:46.400.

Stanford's Second Varsity Eight and Freshman Eight boats will compete in the petite final after racing in the repechage on Friday.

The Cardinal finished second to Washington in its heat of the repechage, 6:00.136 to 6:03.955. The freshmen boat was third in its heat at 6:14.971. Cal won the race in 6:01.947.

The freshmen race against Syracuse, Northeastern, Princeton, Navy and Dartmouth in the petite final. The Second Varsity Eight goes against Cornell, Syracuse, George Washington, Columbia and Penn.

The Stanford women's lightweight eight boat won its heat with a time of 7:01.096, less than two seconds ahead of Bucknell. The Cardinal advances to the Grand Final and will compete against Wisconsin, Radcliffe, Bucknell, Princeton, and Georgetown.

-- PA Weekly Online Sports