NORFOLK, Va. – The George Mason University rowing team fought through difficult, blustery winds on the shores of the Commonwealth during a dual race with Old Dominion to open the 2019 spring season on Saturday.
 
During the event, Mason was able to shake off some early season rust and get on the water to test out some spring lineups. The team found areas of growth across the board in the first of back-to-back race weeks for the Patriots.
 
"The most important thing for us to do in our early season races is to learn something from the experience so we can be better prepared the next time we line up and race," head coach Joseph Richards said. "I think all of our crews did that today."
 
Mason's Varsity 8+ led off the day in Norfolk and finished with a time of 7:06.20. Next up was the Second Varsity 8+, which put together a solid race and placed just eight seconds behind the strong ODU boat.
 
"I was happy with the effort the team put in as a whole," Richards said. "The Second Varsity 8+ especially raced hard and had a good performance. The conditions were challenging and some of our crews dealt with it better than others."
 
Mason worked a number of 2018-19 novices into the Varsity 4+ boats to wrap up the day, and each took some solid steps forward. The Varsity 4+ finished in a time of 7:31.80, while the Second Varsity 4+ wrapped things up in 9:27.30.
 
"I appreciate Old Dominion being good hosts and I congratulate them on the races their crews were able to put together," Richards added.
 
The Patriots now head home to compete in the Occoquan Sprints next Sunday (March 31) at Sandy Run Regional Park in Fairfax Station.
 
RESULTS
Varsity 8+
1. Old Dominion – 6:40.90
2. George Mason – 7:06.20
 
Second Varsity 8+
1. Old Dominion – 7:26.20
2. George Mason – 7:34.80
 
Varsity 4+
1. Old Dominion – 7:31.80
2. George Mason – 8:31.40
 
Second Varsity 4+
1. Old Dominion – 8:16.10
2. George Mason – 9:27.30
 
BOAT LINEUPS
Varsity 8+
B – Xander Huffman
2 – Laila Salem
3 – Emma Puckett
4 – Elizabeth Johnson
5 – Bailey Price
6 – Maria Justiniano
7 – Nida Peleda
S – Grace Moody
Cox – Kathleen Lackatos
 
Second Varsity 8+
B – Caroline Larson
2 – Clarissa Montes
3 – Olivia Garcia
4 – Hannah Sawn
5 – Marie Therese Michael
6 – Emily Egdahl
7 – Kate Adams
S – Chelsea Cluck
Cox – Aileigh Daniel
 
Varsity 4+
B – Casey Balogh
2 – Shannon Somers
3 – Jordan Boyden
S – Denise Gormley
Cox – Paige Hansbury
 
Second Varsity 4+
B – Talia Winstead
2 – Sophia Chapin
3 – Shannon Somers
S – Denise Gormley
Cox – Paige Hansbury