Race Preview: USRowing Small Boat National Championships Presented by the McNabb Family

This weekend, a new national championship is born. The inaugural USRowing Small Boat National Championships Presented by the McNabb Family brings together some of the nation’s top elite, collegiate, Para, and youth athletes for two days of championship racing on Mercer Lake — and for the first time, small boat competitors will line up with a national title of their own on the line. 

Building on the strong participation and momentum of the Fall Speed Order in recent years, USRowing is continuing to expand the championship experience, providing a premier platform for small boat racing while supporting the continued development of the U.S. High Performance pathway. 

In every event—from the men’s and women’s single sculls and pairs to youth events and the PR1, PR2, and PR3 Para single sculls—winners will be crowned national champions, with collegiate champions recognized as well. College athletes can compete for both overall national championship honors and collegiate titles while racing against many of the country’s top elite athletes.  

The Field: Race Alongside the Best in the Country 

The inaugural championships have attracted 370 entries from over 70 clubs and programs, bringing together a strong field of elite, collegiate, Para, and youth competitors from across the country. The men’s single sculls lead the way with 85 entries, followed by the women’s pair with 72, the women’s single sculls with 70, and the men’s pair with 61. 

The championships will feature an impressive lineup of U.S. National Team athletes, including Olympians and 2026 world champions Molly Bruggeman, Azja Czajkowski, Kate Knifton, and Teal Cohen, who helped the U.S. women's four capture gold in Amsterdam. Fellow Olympians Kristi Wagner and Grace Joyce will also compete, alongside world championship medalist Evan Park. Paralympic silver medalist and reigning world champion in the PR3 Mix 4+ Skylar Dahl will also be racing. On the men's side, 2024 Olympian Jacob Plihal and Sam Melvin, who finished fourth in the single sculls at the 2026 World Rowing Championships. Paralympic silver medalist and reigning world champion in the PR3 Mix 4+, Alex Flynn, and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Justin Best are among the notable competitors. Their participation brings international racing experience to the field and gives emerging athletes an opportunity to compete against some of the nation's best. 

Thirty collegiate programs — including Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Washington, Virginia, and others — will be represented, alongside the Boston, Princeton, and Sarasota USRowing Training Centers. Clubs such as Penn A.C., California Rowing Club, and Craftsbury Green Racing Project will also compete on the national stage. 

The Racing: Multiple Races for Every Athlete 

The two-day competition format maximizes racing opportunities over 2,000 meters while giving competitors multiple races at one of USRowing’s training center venues.  

Tentative schedule: 

• Saturday, November 14 — Morning: Time Trials begin at 7:30 a.m. ET; Afternoon: Semifinals begin at 1:45 p.m. ET. 
• Sunday, November 15 — Morning: A–D Finals begin at 8:00 a.m. ET; Afternoon: E–M Finals 

The Sulger-Barnes Points Trophy: A Legacy of Excellence in American Rowing Since 1916 

The program earning the most points at this year's championships will become the first winner of the Sulger-Barnes Points Trophy in this new era of national championship racing. 

Originally established through the generosity of Julius H. Barnes, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, the trophy was awarded to the rowing club accumulating the most points across the National Championship Regatta. It was later rededicated to honor the extraordinary contributions of the Sulger family, whose legacy of competitive excellence and leadership spans three generations of American rowing. 

With the establishment of the USRowing Small Boat National Championships, this historic trophy begins a new chapter, returning to its original purpose of recognizing the program earning the most points across a national championship. One hundred and ten years after its first presentation, the Sulger-Barnes Points Trophy remains a symbol of championship excellence, enduring family commitment, and the traditions that connect generations of American rowers — and the first program to claim it in this new era will own a permanent piece of rowing history. 

Watch, Follow, and Stay Updated 

• Livestream: Racing will be livestreamed on Overnght, November 14–15. 
• Results: Results will be posted on HereNow. 
• Regatta update alerts (weather, schedule, etc.): Text #smallboat26 to (609) 354-7711 to sign up. After texting, remember to click the link to add your contact information to the community list. 
• Location: Mercer Lake, 334 S Post Rd., West Windsor Township, NJ 08550. 

USRowing thanks the McNabb family for helping bring this new championship to life and looks forward to welcoming athletes, coaches, families, and fans for a memorable weekend of racing.