Racing Underway at the 2024 Youth National Championships

Racing got underway with time trials in 44 events on Thursday at the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla.

Presented by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., this year's event is the largest ever with 854 entries from 224 clubs across the country bringing in just over 4,000 athletes. 44 time trials took place, in order to seed the A/B and C/D semifinal races for tomorrow. The top 16 boats in each time trial will face off in the A/B semifinals and are fighting for a top four finish to advance to the A finals.

In the first time trial of the day, Oak Neck Rowing Academy's Henry Davison edged out Brophy College Preparatory Crew's Ian O'Riley to win the time trial in the men's youth single sculls. Davison, the fourth place finisher in the event last year, covered the course in a 6:50.81, finishing 1.69 seconds ahead of O'Riley's 6:52.50. Williamsburg Boat Club's William Fuller finished third in a 6:58.83.

In one of the tightest races of the day, Triangle Rowing's Annelise Hahl bested last year's silver medalist, Ana Holtey from Waterford Crew by 1.22 seconds to earn the top seed in tomorrow's women's youth single sculls semifinals. Hahl, who raced at the 2023 World Rowing Under 19 Championships in the women's single sculls and won silver at the 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in the single sculls, finished third in this event last year. Bridgett Knapp of Long Beach Crew finished in third in a time of 7:49.27.

Last year's women's pair winners, Connecticut Boat Club returned to the top of the time sheet with a 7:21.68. The pair of Caroline Krantz and Annika Nelson represented the U.S. last year at the 2023 World Rowing Under 19 Championships. Detroit Boat Club crossed the finish line in 7:28.32 followed by Montclair High School in third with a 7:29.77. On the men's side, Montclair's pair took the win by over 5 seconds. Canisius High School's A and B pairs completed the top three. 

Newport Sea Base Rowing took the win in the men's four with coxswain. The crew was 3.31 seconds ahead of second place finisher, Newport Aquatic Center. RowAmerica Rye finished third just .29 seconds ahead of Pocock. In the women's four with coxswain, Greenwich Crew won the time trial by over 6 seconds, finishing in 6:49.88. St. Andrew Rowing Club and Inglemoor High School were separated by .77 and took second and third place, respectively.

In the women's quadruple sculls, West Coast crews dominated the time trial with Redwood Scullers taking first place in a time of 6:40.50. Los Gatos took second in 6:46.38 with Oregon Rowing Unlimited following closely behind in 6:47.08. Los Gatos, last year's second place finishers in the men's quadruple sculls event, took the win this morning in a time of 5:52.85. Indianapolis Rowing Center finished second, just under 3 seconds behind Los Gatos. Whitemarsh Boat Club finished in third place.

RowAmerica Rye placed first in both the men's and women's eight. In the men's youth eight, RowAmerica Rye posted the best time, finishing in a 5:30.00. Oakland Strokes finished second in a 5:34.81, with St. Joseph's Preparatory School finishing third in a 5:35.06. RowAmerica Rye's women took the top spot in the women's youth eight, crossing the line in a 6:11.98. Marin Rowing finished second in a 6:15.64, with Saugatuck taking third in a 6:19.97.

Click here for today's complete results.

Racing continues Friday with semifinals in all boat classes. Saturday will feature the B finals in the U17, U16, and U15 boat classes, as well as the C and D finals. Sunday's racing will feature the A finals (medal races) for all boat classes and the B finals for the youth boat classes. Click here for a complete schedule and here for the heat sheet.

The event will be streamed live on Overnght.

Located in Sarasota, Fla., Nathan Benderson Park is a unique 600-acre community park that includes North America's premier 2,000-meter sprint rowing course and a regatta center. It previously hosted youth nationals in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Click here for complete coverage of the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships.

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