Racing Underway at USRowing’s 2024 Beach Sprint National Team Trials

Racing at the 2024 Beach Sprint National Team Trials got underway Friday in Sarasota, Fla.

In the open men’s solo event, Next Level Rowing's Christopher Bak easily posted the fastest time in the time trial, covering the course in a 3:10.8. Bak, who won gold in the event in 2022, finished 27.1 seconds ahead of Next Level Rowing teammate Henry Porter. Occoquan Boat Club’s Priit Grabbi finished third with a 3:44.4, 46 seconds ahead of Guy Weaser (unaffiliated), who took fourth. Next Level Rowing’s Luke Eward finished fifth in a 5:14.7.

In the open women’s solo, Next Level Rowing’s Christine Cavallo finished 23.1 seconds ahead of teammate Elizabeth Hinley to clock the fastest time of the time trial. Cavallo, a seven-time national team member who won bronze in the event in 2023, covered the course in a 3:18.8. Hinley, a Beach Sprint National Team veteran, finished in a 3:41.9. With less than one second separating them, Next Level Rowing’s Alyssa Trebilcock and Ransom Everglades Crew’s Kathryn Serra finished third and fourth, respectively. Next Level Rowing’s Katelyn Davidson finished fifth in a 4:07.0.

In the highest-entered event of the regatta, Next Level Rowing’s Ronan Maher dominated the time trial of the junior men's solo, covering the course in 3:18.8. A beach sprint newcomer, Maher finished 23.2 seconds ahead of Unity Boat Club’s Chase McBride, who took second. Finishing only 1.2 seconds behind McBride, New Trier High School Rowing’s Connor Gamse took third in a 3:43.2, followed by Unity Boat Club’s Caden Coleman in a 3:51.2.

In the junior women's solo event, Next Level Rowing’s Annelise Hahl posted the fastest time of the time trial, covering the course in a 3:25.8. Hahl, who won silver in the event in 2023, finished just three seconds ahead of teammate and three-time beach sprint national team member Britt Wotovich. Next Level Rowing’s Madilyn Donahue finished third with a 3:48.8, followed by teammate Ophelia Weiss with a 3:57.8. 

In the final time trial of the day, the Next Level Rowing crew of Malachi Anderson, Cassidy Norton, Sierra Bishop, and Justin Stevens finished more than 15 seconds ahead of teammates John Olbrys, Hinley, Olivia Farra, and Cameron Kumagai to secure the top spot. Next Level Rowing (Anderson) covered the course in a 2:44.3. Next Level Rowing (Olbrys) finished in a 3:01.2. Next Level Rowing (Porter) took third with a 3:15.9, followed by Next Level Rowing (Brown) in a 3:26.5.

Due to weather conditions, remaining time trials will now take place on Saturday, June 29, followed by racing in the junior men's solo, junior women’s solo, mixed quadruple sculls with coxswain, open mixed double sculls, and inclusion PR3 mixed double sculls. Racing concludes Sunday, June 30.

Click HERE for full event information and HERE for live results.