Madison Rowers Capture Seven 1st-Place Wins Saturday on the Occoquan

By Treeby Brown

In its best showing of the season, the James Madison High School Crew Team raced 11 boats and captured seven 1st place and three 2nd place finishes at the Al Urquia Regatta on the Occoquan. The clouds managed to hold off on Saturday to provide great rowing weather. 

All five women's boats earned first place finishes. The Women's 1st Varsity Eight continued its undefeated streak on the Occoquan with a win over Oakton, the Women's 2nd Eight captured a decisive win over rival Robinson and the Women's 3rd Varsity Eight earned its first win of the season with a victory over Oakton.  Both the Women's Freshman and  Women's Novice Eights raced to first places with wins over Lake Braddock and Thomas Jefferson, respectively.

The Men's First Eight prevailed in a tight race by edging perennial rival Thomas Jefferson by a little over a second.  The Men's 3rd Eight earned a first place with a win over Robinson.  The Men's 2nd Eight, Freshman Eight and Novice Eight rowed to second place finishes, finishing behind Jefferson (2V, F8) and Fairfax.  The Men's Junior 4 finished a solid fourth in a competitive field.

Next week, Madison's Freshmen  and Third Varsity Eights will compete in the Ted Phoenix Regatta on the Occoquan-the first of two Virginia state championship regatta weekends.  The following week, the men's and women's 1st and 2nd varsity eights will compete at the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships.