Open Collegiate 4+ Results | Collegiate 8+ Results

PHILADELPHIA – Under the direction of first-year head coach Joseph Richards, the George Mason University rowing team began a new era on a rainy Saturday at the Navy Day Regatta.
 
The Green & Gold used the fall 4000-meter head race format to tinker with lineups and attempt to balance crews to create the fastest and most efficient boats heading into the spring. After graduating five seniors from its 2017-18 Varsity 8+, the Patriots are charging a new group of Patriot student-athletes to sustain the team's success from the past few seasons.
 
On Saturday, Mason raced four Open Collegiate 4+ boats and a pair of Collegiate 8+s.
 
"Spending more times in fours is something I thought made sense for our group this fall," Richards said.  "I learned today that our fours competition is very stiff and these races gave us a starting point for this season. We need to continue to do more work and get faster as a group."
 
In the Open Collegiate 4+, the Mason 'B' boat led the way, placing 13^th out of 34 boats in a time of 16:00.92. The 'A' boat was close behind in 15^th place (16:06.87). Both of those quartets finished ahead of 'A' crews from Villanova, Lafayette and other strong local programs.
 
Rounding out those morning crews, the Mason 'D' boat finished 28^th (17:22.00) and the 'C' contingent finished 31^st (17:27.03).
 
In the afternoon wave, the Mason College 8+ 'A' boat placed 16^th out of 26 crews in 14:43.59, while the 'B' crew was 25^th in 16:13.36.
 
After Saturday's events, the Patriots return home for three weeks of training before hosting the Head of the Occoquan on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Fairfax Station.
 
"I'd like to continue to build mileage and intensity and go farther and harder in practices moving forward," Richards said. "I have a clear idea of some technical things our crews will keep working on. We'll see if it makes sense to continue prioritizing the fours or if we'll try some other things as this fall progresses. We have a small team with varying levels of skill and experience, and it's all about finding the right dynamic for our student-athletes over the next few weeks."

LINEUPS
Collegiate 8+ 'A'
B - Leah Gillespie
2 - Nida Peleda
3 - Emma Puckett
4 - Maria Justiniano
5 - Elizabeth Johnson
6 - Grace Moody
7 - Xander Huffman
S - Elizabeth Rush
Cox - Kathleen Lackatos

Collegiate 8+ 'B'
B - Hannah Sullivan
2 - Denise Gormley
3 - Katelyn James
4 - Caroline Larson
5 - Marie Therese Michael
6 - Hannah Sawn
7 - Laila Salem
S - Kate Adams
Cox - Fabriana Velasquez

Collegiate 4+ 'A'
B - Xander Huffman
2 - Grace Moody 
3 - Marie Therese Michael
S - Elizabeth Rush
Cox - Elizabeth Tubb

Collegiate 4+ 'B'
B - Nida Peleda
2 - Emma Puckett
3 - Maria Justiniano
S - Elizabeth Johnson
Cox - Kathleen Lackatos

Collegiate 4+ 'C'
B - Caroline Larson
2 - Leah Gillespie
3 - Hannah Sawn
S - Katelyn James
Cox - Fabriana Velasquez

Collegiate 4+ 'D'
B - Hannah Sullivan
2 - Denise Gormley
3 - Laila Salem
S - Kate Adams
Cox - Paige Hansbury

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