WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - The Navy lightweight rowing team began competition at the IRA National Championships on Friday with three boats taking to the waters of Mercer Lake. The Mids' varsity four crew highlighted the action on day with a second place result in its respective heat to advance to the grand finals.

The varsity four boat of Mitch Bond, Patrick Watler, Anlon McGuigan, Patrick Leech and coxswain Grace Albertson raced down the 2,000-meter course in a time of 6:37.180. The Mids finished behind Columbia, who clocked in at 6:34.710, but ahead of Wisconsin at 6:38.880. Harvard (6:39.760) and Cornell (6:43.940) rounded out the heat. The Mids' strong result earned them a spot in Sunday's grand final.

Navy's varsity four without a coxswain also turned in time that qualified them for Sunday's grand final. Racing in heat two, the four-man crew of Thomas Coffin, Brant McGuigan, Nick Skeen and Michael Pentaleri recorded a time of 6:35.120 that was third-best in the four-team heat. The Mids earned the final advancement spot by holding off the Bulldogs of Yale down the stretch by 2.56 seconds.

In varsity eight action, Navy's crew raced versus a field of Columbia, Princeton and Harvard and came in fourth place at 6:04.130. The Mids missed advancing in the third spot and Harvard by 2.79 seconds. Navy will participate in the petite final on Sunday.

All three teams will practice tomorrow before wrapping up championship action on Sunday morning beginning with the varsity eights at 8:12 a.m.

Results

Varsity Eight

Heat 2
Columbia - 5:56.030
Princeton - 5:58.190
Harvard - 6:01.340
Navy - 6:04.130

Next up … Petite Final, Sunday, 8:12 a.m.

Varsity Four

Heat 2
Columbia - 6:34.710
Navy - 6:37.180
Wisconsin - 6:38.880
Harvard - 6:39.760
Cornell - 6:43.940

Next up … Grand Final, Sunday, 9:00 a.m.

Varsity Four w/o Coxswain

Heat 2
Cornell - 6:23.870
Harvard - 6:25.910
Navy - 6:35.120
Yale - 6:37.680

Next up … Grand Final, Sunday, 9:48 a.m.