WASHINGTON - Georgetown University's lightweight men's rowing team looks to defend its varsity 4+ title at the IRA National Championship this weekend on Lake Natoma in California. The Hoyas will also have an 8+ and 4- boat in competition as well.

Racing begins on Friday as the Blue & Gray takes the water in the first heat of the 8+ crews at 9:10 a.m. PST. The Hoyas will go up against Princeton, Cornell and Columbia in the heat while Yale, Harvard, Penn and Navy compete in the the second heat.

A pair of 4+ heats are on the docket Friday, with GU racing Navy, Penn, Dartmouth, Yale and MIT in the final race at 11:50 a.m. The other heat features Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Colgate and Princeton.

Georgetown will also compete in the 4- event, rowing against Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth and MIT in the first of two heats at noon. Penn, Harvard, Navy, Columbia and Yale round out the competition in the second race.

For all three races, the top three finishers in each heat will advance to the Grand Final on Sunday while the all others will move on to the Petite Finals.

Live video of each race will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.