April 8, 2005

George Mason has entered two women's varsity eight boats in the 18th annual George Washington Invitational Crew Classic to be held on Saturday, April 9, on the Potomac River race course. The event is part of the 2005 National Cherry Blossom Festival, happening from March 26-April 10. The George Washington University rowing program hosts the event, which is the largest collegiate rowing competition in the Washington metropolitan area.

Preliminary heats begin at 9:40 a.m.,with Mason boats scheduled for 11:10 a.m. and 11:40 a.m., followed by the finals scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. The 2,000-meter, four-lane buoyed course begins near the Spout Run area of the Potomac River with the finish line at Washington Harbour in Georgetown. An awards ceremony will follow the competition at approximately 4:30 p.m. at Washington Harbour. GW Rowing is headquartered at Thompson Boat Center near the intersection of Rock Creek Parkway and Virginia Avenue, NW.

Men's and women's crews from several universities, including the host Colonials, will compete in the day-long event with more than 400 rowers expected to take part. Men's and women's squads from George Washington, Georgetown and Virginia will compete for the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point Trophy. The Patriots will compete with those schools, plus crews from Princeton, Villanova and West Virginia. Also competing will be men's crews from Marietta, North Carolina, Saint Joseph's, Temple and the U.S. Naval Academy. Men's and women's categories this year include: varsity eights, second varsity eights, varsity fours, novice eights and second novice eights.

Last year, Navy won the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point trophy for the third straight year with 65 points followed by Saint Joseph's (45) and Georgetown with 36. Tennessee won the women's varsity eight while Navy won the men's varsity eight.

Admission is free.