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Jun 29, 2024
Team USA
Two athletes and two crews earned spots on the 2024 Beach Sprint National Team on Saturday in Sarasota, Fla. The winners will represent the U.S. at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals this September in Genoa, Italy.
In the junior women's solo event, defending silver medalist Annelise Hahl secured a spot on her third Beach Sprint National Team, winning her final by 15.4 seconds over Next Level Rowing teammate Britt Wotovich. Hahl, who won her semifinal by a nearly identical margin, covered the course in 2:59.2. Wotovich, who won silver in the under 19 mixed double sculls in 2023, followed with a 3:14.6.
“It feels amazing,” Hahl said. “I was definitely fighting for that spot with Britt, and I’m very, very happy with my performance. Conditions were good, and it was so much fun.”
In the junior men’s solo event, Next Level Rowing’s Ronan Maher earned a spot on his first Beach Sprint National Team, covering the course in an even 2:58.0. Almost ten seconds separated Maher from opponent Connor Gamse of Unity Boat Club, who finished in a 3:07.5.
“It’s been a long season. Lots of work, lots of reps. It feels great,” Maher said of the victory. “Connor’s a great competitor, and I’m looking forward to racing him again later in our career.”
The returning Next Level Rowing tandem of Christine Cavallo and Kory Rogers also secured tickets to Italy, clocking a 2:37.1 to win the final of the open mixed double sculls event. Cavallo, now an eight-time national team member, and Rogers, a member of the Beach Sprint National Team since 2021, clinched the victory over teammates Olivia Farrar and Cameron Kumagai by just 4.2 seconds. Cavallo and Rogers won the World Beach Games Continental Qualification Regatta in 2023, but were knocked out during quarterfinals at the World Championships.
“Last year, Kory and I were in the double, and our training was phenomenal. Then, in the first round of racing, we didn’t progress, which was really frustrating. We had spent so much time training,” Cavallo said. “So, to come back, be in that same lineup, do it again…there was just so much comfort on the water. We knew pretty much every wave. I feel awesome. It was so cool.”
In the mixed quadruple sculls with coxswain, the Next Level Rowing crew of Malachi Anderson, Cassidy Norton, Sierra Bishop, and Justin Stevens finished 7.8 seconds ahead of teammates John Olbrys, Elizabeth Hinley, Olivia Farra, and Cameron Kumagai. Next Level Rowing (Anderson) crossed the finish line in 2:30.2 to secure their spot at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, followed by Next Level Rowing (Olbrys) in a 2:38.0. More than 15 seconds separated the crews in Friday’s time trial.
In the first heat of the inclusion PR3 mixed double sculls, Paralympian Danielle Hansen and 2022 Beach Sprint National Team member Gary Rought easily secured the victory over Next Level Rowing’s Amy Pietrafitta and Connor Sawyers. Hansen and Rought covered the course in a 3:10.2, a full minute ahead of Pietrafitta and Sawyers, who finished in a 4:16.4.
In the second heat, 2022 Para National Team member Pearl Outlaw and 2023 Beach Sprint National Team member Luke Eward won their race by just four seconds to land a spot in Sunday’s final. The duos will now go head-to-head for spots on the 2024 Beach Sprint roster.
Racing concludes on Sunday with competition in the open men’s solo, open women’s solo, junior men’s double sculls, junior women’s double sculls, and inclusion PR3 mixed double sculls.
Click HERE for full event information and HERE for live results.
