Results

FAIRFAX STATION, Va. – The George Mason University rowing team hosted the annual Mason Invite and improved in a number of areas during one of the most unique events in collegiate rowing.
 
Despite battling some injuries in the Varsity 8+, which shuffled the lineups, the Green & Gold made strides on their home water while continuing prep for next month's A-10 Championship.
 
In the third year in the regatta's current format, boats from the A-10, CAA and Big 12 took part in intra-conference heats in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, a boat from each conference takes part in each final, with points awarded based on finish. All three finals within a subsection of boat (i.e. Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+) have the same point breakdown, giving equal importance to each race.
 
This season, the Big 12 was represented by Kansas, West Virginia and Old Dominion. The A-10 featured Duquesne, George Mason and Saint Joseph's, while the CAA included Villanova, Eastern Michigan and Delaware.
 
After the races had been scored, the CAA was declared the winner with 44 points, just edging out the CAA (43). The A-10 was third with 18 points.
 
"The team as a whole was able to make good progress from our performances a week ago," head coach Joseph Richards said. "We made up some ground on a conference opponent and that was encouraging. There is certainly more work to be done as we continue to prepare for our late season races. I'm pleased with the work we've done to this point and I'm excited to keep working with our team to see how fast we can be."
 
The Varsity 8+ got things started for Mason with a 9 a.m. heat against its fellow A-10 schools. Mason finished third (6:59.36), but trailed Duquesne by just six seconds, which marked a two-second improvement over last week's Cooper Invite margin. Then, in the afternoon competition against boats from the CAA and Big 12, the Green & Gold crossed the finish line in 7:03.06 in a slower race across the board with Delaware and Old Dominion.
 
For the Second Varsity 8+, the Patriots placed third in their morning heat in a time of 7:40.41. They also improved their margin against Duquesne from the previous weekend by more than four seconds. In the afternoon, the Patriots improved upon their morning time by more than 10 seconds to cross the finish line in 7:30.65.
 
The Varsity 4+ hit the water last in the morning and crossed the finish line in 8:45.36. Then in the final, Mason finished in 9:06.15.
 
Next up for Mason, the Patriots travel to Philadelphia to compete in the Kerr Cup on Saturday (April 20).
 
BOAT LINEUPS
Varsity 8+
Cox Kathleen Lackatos
8 Maria Justiniano
7 Nida Peleda
6 Elizabeth Johnson
5 Xander Huffman
4 Emily Engdahl
3 Laila Salem
2 Chelsea Cluck
1 Kate Adams
 
Second Varsity 8+
Cox Paige Hansbury
8 Bailey Price
7 Caroline Larson
6 Marie Therese Michael
5 Hannah Sawn
4 Casey Balogh
3 Denise Gormley
2 Clarissa Montes
1 Olivia Garcia
 
Varsity 4+
Cox Fabriana Velasquez
4 Aileigh Daniel
3 Shannon Somers
2 Sophia Chapin
1 Talia Winstead