OCCOQUAN, Va. – The Novice 4 captured gold in its heat as the George Mason rowing team advanced three boats to the grand finals and earned one medal on Sunday in the Occoquan Sprints.

Mason got things started with the second varsity 8 competing against Navy, Mary Washington and fellow Atlantic 10 member Dayton. The Patriots claimed third place with a time of 07:46.10 to advance to the grand finals in the afternoon.

Up next for the Patriots was the varsity 8 crew that also took third-place in its heat. Mason crossed in a time of 07:24.52 to follow Navy in first-place (06:50.25) and Duquesne (07:15.75) and beating out Mary Washington and Susquehanna to advance to the grand final in the afternoon.

The novice four took the water next for Mason competing in the finals. Mason claimed top finish in 08:25.16 to beat Virginia Tech, VCU, Catholic and UNCW and claim gold.

Mason's final heat of the day came with the varsity four which crossed in 08:05.11, good enough for third place and an advance to the grand finals. Navy took the first two spots in times of 07:53.67 and 08:00.95, respectively.

Mason claimed fourth-place finishes in all three grand finals in the afternoon beginning with the second varsity 8 which finished just behind Duquesne in third place and Navy and UNC in first and second places, respectively. Mason edged Dayton, Washington College and UNC “B” in the final.

As the day wound down, Mason's varsity 4 took home a fourth-place finish as Navy claimed the top three places in the final. Mason finished with a time of 08:03.09 just behind Navy “C” with a time of 07:56.43.

The varsity 8 closed out the regatta with the final event. With a time of 06.46.25, Mason captured fourth-place. Navy took gold in 06:32.98 followed by UNC and Duquesne. Dayton and Washington College took fifth and sixth-place, respectively.

For complete results of the Occoquan Sprints, please click here.

Mason returns to the water at the Knecht Cup in Mercer, N.J. April 12-13.

RESULTS

Junior Varsity 8+ Heat 1
1.Navy – 07:26.40
2. Dayton – 07:38.66
3. Mason – 07:46.10
4. Mary Washington – 08:26.11
5. St. Mary's – 08:43.10

Junior Varsity 8+ Final
1.Navy – 07:05.80
2. UNC – 07:10.73
3. Duquesne – 07:14.19
4. Mason – 07:23.91
5. Dayton – 07:31.47
6. Washington College – 07:35.12
7. UNC “B” – 07:35.58

Varsity 8+ Heat 1
1.Navy – 06:50.25
2. Duquesne – 07:15.75
3. Mason – 07:24.52
4. Mary Washington – 07:44.27
5. Susquehanna – 07:51.37

Varsity 8+ Final
1.Navy – 06:32.98
2. UNC – 06:40.87
3. Duquesne – 06:42.37
4. Mason – 06:46.25
5. Dayton – 06:50.74
6. Washington College – 06:57.63

Novice 4+ Heat 3 Finals
1.Mason – 08:25.16
2. Virginia Tech Crew – 08:33.08
3. VCU Club – 08:44.83
4. Catholic – 09:08. 11
5. UNCW – 09:50.43

Varsity 4+ Heat 2
1.Navy – 07:53.67
2. Navy – 08:00.95
3. Mason – 08:05.11
4. Duquesne – 08:14.54
5. Loyola Md. – 08:38.04

Varsity 4+ Final
1.Navy “A” – 07:32.21
2. Navy “B” – 07:38.10
3. Navy “C” – 07:56.43
4. Mason – 08:03. 09
5. UNC – 08:19. 28
6. Duquesne – 08:40. 72