FAIRFAX STATION, Va. – The George Mason University rowing team accomplished a lot in a short week while putting together arguably the program's best races of the season Friday at the annual George Cup.
 
On their home waters of the Occoquan, the Varisty 4+, Second Varsity 8+ and Varsity 8+ all registered their fastest times of the 2017 campaign while going up against excellent local competition in George Washington and Georgetown.
 
"This was a good day of racing for us across the board," head coach Ted Nagorsen said. "The course was perfect with calm conditions. All things considered, with a short week, our three crews rowed well. The competition was excellent, but we were pleased with the week overall."
 
Mason's Varsity 4+ kicked off the day and placed third in a time of 8:24.70. The finish marked a more than 26-second improvement over last weekend's Knecht Cup outing in New Jersey.
 
The Second Varsity 8+ got off to a slow start through the first 500 meters, but over the middle 1000, the Patriots kept the separation consistent between the boats while finishing third in 7:01.90. It was another sizable improvement by a Patriot boat, as Mason finished in 7:35.53 last weekend.
 
In the Varsity 8+ race, Mason rocketed out of the gate and was in second place amongst the elite regional field through 500 meters. All three boats were separated by less than a second. GW and the Hoyas made moves after the first 1000 meters, but Mason fought through its third 500 as it sought a negative split time. The improved third 500, coupled with a strong push at the end, gave Mason its best time of 2017 by 16 seconds.
 
Mason now will train to prepare for next Sunday's Mason Invite. The unique race on April 23 will feature teams from the Atlantic 10, Big 12 and CAA. Kansas and West Virginia will be among the teams duking it out for conference glory on the Occoquan.
 
RESULTS (Calm, slight tailwind against a slight current)
 
Varsity 8+
1. George Washington – 6:34.78
2. Georgetown – 6:36.47
3. George Mason – 6:45.79
 
Second Varsity 8+
1. George Washington – 6:39.70
2. Georgetown – 6:44.70
3. George Mason – 7:01.90
 
Varsity 4+
1. George Washington – 7:29.01
2. Georgetown – 7:36.70
3. George Mason – 8:24.70
 
BOAT ROSTERS
 
Varsity 8+ Boat
B – Anne Graf
2 – Natalie Sebastian
3 – Nida Peleda
4 – Megan Gooding
5 – Caitlin Mahoney
6 – Elizabeth Rush
7 – Taylor Williams
S – Maria Justiniano
Cox – Shelby Rein
 
Second Varsity 8+ Boat
B – Emma Evans
2 – Elizabeth Johnson
3 – Julia O'Donnell
4 – Brianna Burke
5 – Alexandra Williams
6 – Anna Close
7 – Lauren Parsons
S – Nicole Van Oort
Cox – Kathleen Lackatose
 
Varsity 4+ Boat
B – Emily Holt
2 – Gemma Bauer
3 – Anushka Prativadhi Bayankara
S – Emily Egdahl
Cox – Jessica Sweeney