Sixty-Seven Placement Finals Complete at 2023 USRowing Youth National Championships

Saturday's racing at the 2023 USRowing Youth National Championships featured 67 placement finals with crews racing for their final overall ranking.

Presented by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., this year's youth nationals is the largest ever with 835 entries from 225 clubs across the country bringing in just over 4,000 athletes to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla.

Less than one second separated White Rock Boathouse and Whitemarsh Boat Club in the B final of the women's under 16 eight. White Rock jumped out to the early lead in the first 500 meters and then held off Whitemarsh at the line. White Rock clocked a 7:25.63, with Whitemarsh finishing in a 7:26.25. With the B final victory, White Rock finished in ninth place overall.

In the B final of the men's under 17 quadruple sculls, Rowing Club of the Woodlands took the top spot in a close, three-boat race. Atomic Rowing took the early lead, just ahead of the Woodlands and Camp Randall Rowing Club. The Woodlands inched out to a lead at the midway point and was up by about two seconds going into the final 500 meters. Camp Randall and Atomic were in close pursuit, ending up in a dead heat for second place, 1.24 seconds behind the crew from Texas. The Woodlands finished with a time of 6:47.72, with the Atomic and Camp Randall crossing dead even in a 6:48.96.

In the C final of the women's youth single sculls, Three Rivers Rowing Association's Elinor Graham came back in the final 500 meters to claim the victory and place 17th overall. Graham trailed early and was still nearly two seconds behind Baldwin School Crew's Anna Johnson with 500 meters to go. But Graham was able to pull ahead in the final sprint to win the race in an 8:30.88, finishing 1.22 seconds in front. Johnson held off Cambridge Boat Club's Emeline Daley by a bow ball to take second. Johnson finished with a time of 8:32.10.

The C final of the women's youth double sculls saw The Hockaday School's Alyssa Cuban and Ava Thigpen hold off Bainbridge Island Rowing's Adeline Carleton and Hannah Cutler by less than one second to take 17th overall. Cuban and Thigpen finished with a time of 7:54.57, while Carleton and Cutler clocked a 7:55.51.

Just 0.41 seconds separated the top two crews in the men's youth second varsity eight C final. Green Lake Crew made a huge push in the final sprint to move from third to first to win the race and finish 17th overall. Green Lake clocked a 6:19.24, with The Milwaukee Rowing Club, who led for most of the race, finishing second in a 6:19.65.

Oak Neck Rowing Academy overtook Parati Competitive Rowing in the final sprint to win the C final of the women's under 17 quadruple sculls by 0.36 seconds. Parati led through the 1,500-meter mark before Oak Neck caught them at the line to finish 17th overall. Oak Neck finished with a time of 7:58.79, with Parati crossing in a 7:59.15.

The D final of the men's youth second varsity eight was decided by about a foot as Atlanta Junior Rowing Association defeated Pittsburgh's Central Catholic Crew by 0.13 seconds to earn 25th place overall. Central Catholic held the lead for much of the race before the Atlanta Juniors were able to edge them out in the final strokes. Atlanta finished with a time of 6:26.97, while Central Catholic clocked a 6:27.10.

Click here for today's complete results.

Racing will wrap up on Sunday with 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 USRowing's YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/usrowingorg.

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, and 2022.

Click here for complete coverage of the 2023 USRowing Youth National Championships.

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