GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- The Harvard men's heavyweight rowing team advanced all four of its boats out of day one at the IRA National Championship Regatta on Lake Natoma. The HUBC eights swept their races with first place finishes to move to to the semifinals, while the varsity four secured a spot in the finals with a second-place finish.

Results | Video | Photos

Harvard's varsity boat, stroked by captain Ben Scott, opened up the racing in Heat 3 and faced Northeastern for the third consecutive regatta. Racing side-by-side in the first two lanes, HUBC got off to a fast start and built a lead that it would not relinquish by the 500m mark. Harvard's varsity advanced to Saturday's AB Semifinals at 11:56 am ET with a first-place finish in a time of 5:42.410. Northeastern was able to maintain contact throughout, but it was HUBC opening up a margin of 2.86 to take the race.

The second varsity paced its heat with a half boat length victory over Northeastern in 5:47.460. Stroked by Tyler Horler, HUBC's 2V qualified for Saturday's AB Semifinals at 12:12 pm ET. Harvard swept all three eight-man boats as the third varsity cruised into Saturday's AB Semifinal at 12:28 pm ET with a time of 5:50.790; besting Brown by better than two and a half seconds.

Day one wrapped up with Harvard's varsity four, which first rowed a time trial after the morning session. Racing in the semifinal, HUBC clinched a spot in the A Final Saturday at 2:30 pm ET with a second place finish; a bow's length behind Penn at 6:26.950.

Results
1V (Heat 3)
1. Harvard - 5:42.410
2. Northeastern - 5:45.270
3. Boston U. - 5:48.390
4. Wisconsin - 5:50.730
5. Holy Cross - 5:57.230
6. MIT - 6:09.210

2V (Heat 1)
1. Harvard - 5:45.870
2. Northeastern - 5:47.460
3. Penn - 5:48.660
4. Holy Cross - 5:59.270
5. Navy - 5:59.360
6. Oregon State - 6:13.450

3V (Heat 1)
1. Harvard - 5:50.790
2. Brown - 5:53.490
3. Yale - 5:58.090
4. Columbia - 5:59.500
5. Oregon State - 6:13.650
6. La Salle - 6:31.390

V4+ (Heat 2)
1. Penn - 6:26.160
2. Harvard - 6:26.950
3. Boston U. - 6:32.310
4. Dartmouth - 6:34.240
5. Brown - 6:39.900
6. San Diego - 6:45.430

Harvard Boat Lineups
V8
Cox: Natalia Toms
Stroke: Ben Scott
7: Jack Dorney
6: Jordan Dykema
5: Sam Woodgate
4: Alexander Grundy
3: Leo Bessler
2: Jack Hansen-Knarhoi
Bow: Josh Brangan

2V
Cox: Iris Hennin
Stroke: Tyler Horler
7: Owen Finnerty
6: Apostolos Lykomitros
5: Cameron Beyki
4: Sam Gallaudet
3: Robert Rawlinson
2: Elam Hughes
Bow: Marco Gandola

3V
Cox: Cate Frerichs
Stroke: Marco Vicino
7: Luca Vicino
6: Owen Marcovitz
5: Kynan Tallec-Botos
4: Joe Baker
3: Charles Richards
2: Alexander Sanchez Fretz
Bow: Jack Sulger

V4+
Cox: Nicholas Yoo
Stroke: Adam Cech
3: Marcus Chung
2: Ryan Cornelius
Bow: Leyth Sousou

Saturday Race Times*
11:56 AM - Varsity (Semifinal)
12:12 PM - 2V (Semifinal)
12:28 PM - 3V (Semifinal)
2:30 PM - Varsity Four (Final)
*All times listed as Eastern Time and subject to change.
Sunday race times will be published in the prior days GoCrimson.com recap and on social media.