WORCESTER, Mass. (May 14) ­ Matching its best national finish by a men's varsity four, Seattle Pacific University took third place at the ECAC National Invitational Championships Sunday in a steady soaking rain on Lake Quinsigamond.

After the grand final was delayed over two hours by severe weather, Mercyhurst went to the front early and extended its lead, finishing first with a time of 6 minutes, 37.5 seconds.

The Falcons reeled in two boats with their sprint and were gaining on eventual runner-up Colgate over the final 500 meters. Colgate was second, more than a boat-length behind Mercyhurst in 6:45.6 and SPU took the bronze in 6:47.0.

"I'm proud of our guys; they rowed with a lot of heart," said coach Keith Jefferson. "They put together a dynamite sprint to come from fifth and nearly take second."

The only other SPU four to finish among the top three nationally was in 1981 at Dad Vail.

Seattle Pacific won its morning qualifying heat, holding off a late charge by Mary Washington. The top three boats from each heat advanced.

Men's Varsity 4 (qualifying heat)
1 -Seattle Pacific 6:51.9, 2-Mary Washington 6:52.6, 3-North Carolina 6:56.3, 4-Connecticut Coll. 6:59.9, 5-Middlebury 7:13.0, 6-Vassar 7:17.8

Men's Varsity 4 (grand final)
1-Mercyhurst 6:37.5, 2-Colgate 6:45.6, 3-Seattle Pacific 6:47.0, 4-Mary Washington 6:51.7, 5-North Carolina 6:51.9, 6-Boston College 6:56.4

SPU lineup:
Varsity 4: Stroke­Jeremy Bryant (Jr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor); 3­John Chevigny (Jr., Seattle, Wa../Roosevelt); 2­Jonathan Dyk (So., Silverdale, Wa./Olympic); bow­Ben Zupke (Jr., Lynden, Wa./Lynden); coxswain­Jeney Wierman (Jr., Walla Wall, Wa./Walla Wall)