2026 USRowing National Selection Regatta, Lightweight Trials, and Para Speed Order Begins This Weekend

Racing is officially underway at the 2026 USRowing National Selection Regatta, Lightweight Trials, and Para Speed Order - three key domestic events that serve as pathways to international selection. Hosted by USRowing, the regatta brings together the nation’s top elite rowers to compete for spots on the U.S. National Teams.

With 126 entries, this will be one of the largest selection regattas for the U.S. National Teams. The regatta includes heats, quarterfinals, semi-finals, and finals in the men’s and women’s single sculls and pairs, along with lightweight categories and PR1, PR2, and PR3 single sculls. Winners of the single sculls and pairs events will earn the right to compete in those events at World Cups this summer. Lightweight event winners who meet the competitive standard time will be selected to compete at the 2026 World Championships. The Para Speed Order serves as part of the broader selection process for the U.S. Para National Team.

In the women’s single sculls, several returning athletes headline the field, including Lauren O’Connor, last year’s winner, and Michelle Sechser, the reigning world champion in the lightweight single sculls. Olympians Kristi Wagner, Sophia Vitas, Emily Kallfelz, and Grace Joyce are also set to compete.

The men’s single sculls feature Olympic sculler Jacob Plihal alongside Chris Bak, a three-time beach sprint world champion. Returning members of last year’s world championship team include Cedar Cunningham, Sam Melvin, Willem Drescher, and Evan Falstrup.

In the men’s pair, several athletes from last year’s bronze medal–winning eight will compete, including Pieter Quinton, Gus Rodriguez, Mike Herman, Jacob Hudgins, Billy Bender, and Madison Molitor. Olympic bronze medalist Chris Carlson will race with Sam Sullivan, a member of the U23 gold medal–winning four. Fellow Olympic bronze medalist Evan Olson returns to pair with Jesse Ryno.

Jess Thoennes and Azja Czajkowski reunite from their 2024 Olympic lineup to compete in the women’s pair. They will face strong competition from Olympians Daisy Mazzio-Manson, Regina Salmons, Molly Bruggeman, Kate Knifton, Teal Cohen, Claire Collins, Margaret Hedeman, and Charlotte Buck. The field also includes former U23 athletes Natalie Hoefer, Sue Holderness, and Dahlia Levine, along with returning members of the 2025 World Championship team: Mia Levy, Etta Carpenter, Holly Drapp, Megan Lee, and Kaitlyn Kynast.

The Para rowing team continues to grow, with the women’s PR3 single sculls featuring returning national team athletes and Paralympian Skylar Dahl, along with Annabelle Miller and Eli Margolin. Andrew Mangan returns to compete in the PR1 single sculls after previous national team experience, while Daria Rubin emerges as a new contender in the PR2 single sculls.

In the lightweight events, Justin Schmidt returns to the event after racing on last year’s world championship team. Claire Friedlander is looking to make the jump to the senior team, having previously competed on the U23 team. 

The U.S. will compete at World Cup II and III prior to the 2026 World Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from August 24-30. Results can be found here.