The Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Board of Stewards, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference and the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA) today announced that Mercer Lake, Mercer County Park, West Windsor, N.J., has been selected to host the 112th and 113th IRA Championship Regattas scheduled to be held May 30-June 1, 2014 and May 29-31, 2015. First held in 1896, the IRA Championship Regatta brings the top Men's, Lightweight Men's and Lightweight Women's Crews from throughout the United States to crown the national collegiate champion.
"We're thrilled that the prestigious Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships will be held on Mercer Lake for the first time in 2014, and again the following year," said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. "We invite rowers, fans and families to discover the many treasures Mercer County has to offer."
The Mercer Lake venue has hosted many major regattas including five US Olympic Rowing Team Trials and the 2006 and 2012 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship Regatta, but this will be the first time that it will host the IRA Championship Regatta. For the past three years the event has been in Camden, New Jersey, and the 2013 regatta will be in Sacramento, California. Approximately 1000 collegiate student-athletes participate in the IRA regatta.
"It is an honor to be able to bring the IRA regatta to Mercer Lake," stated Kristopher Grudt, Princeton National Rowing Association's Executive Director. "The IRA has long been considered one of the nation's premier rowing events and it is great to host it at one of the top rowing venues in the country. We thank Mercer County, Mercer County Parks and all of our dedicated volunteers for their support in our successful bid."
Erin McDermott, the President of the IRA Board of Stewards added, "The IRA Board of Stewards is honored to have Mercer Lake as our host site for two consecutive national championships. It is one of the premier rowing sites in the country and we are confident that the PNRA will deliver a first class championship experience to all participating student-athletes."
"Mercer Lake is a tremendous venue for crew with a long and rich history in the sport," Eastern College Athletic Conference Director of Rowing Gary Caldwell said. "The people there have great experience in running championship events and everyone involved with the IRA is excited to add our regatta to the Mercer Lake legacy."
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