U23 World Championships Trials, Para National Team Trials, and Summer Speed Order Open in West Windsor

Racing opened Friday at the Caspersen Rowing Center as athletes took to the course for the first day of the U23 World Championships Trials and Summer Speed Order. Time trials determined advancement across events, with several races decided by less than a second. Trials will decide which athletes will represent the U.S. at their respective World Championships. Athletes must win their event and meet the competitive standard time to earn selection. 

Olympian Ben Davison of the California Rowing Club won the men’s single sculls in 6:35.29, leading a sweep of the top three positions by the club. Davison competed in the men's double sculls that finished fourth at the 2024 Olympic Games. Davison was followed by James Wright in 6:40.37 and James Fetter both from the California Rowing Club, in 6:41.15. Wright held off Fetter by 0.78 seconds. 

Two-time Olympian Kristi Wagner of USTC–Boston won the women’s single sculls in 7:05.33. Wagner topped a field that included Olympian Lauren O'Connor,ARION in second and Olympian Grace Joyce,of the California Rowing Club in third. All three athletes medaled this summer at World Cup II. Theclosest finish in the event came just outside the podium, where Maggie Fellows of Cambridge Rowing Club edged Paige Wheeler of Green Racing Project by 0.02 seconds for fourth place. 

The top two men's pairs made a quick turnaround from their successful World Cup III racing last weekend to lead the field today.  Olympian Peter Chatainand Gus Rodriguez of the California Rowing Club recorded the fastest time in the men’s pair, winning in 6:10.53 narrowly edged Olympian Pieter Quintonand Madison Molitor. Quinton and Molitor won silver at World Cup III. The 2025 U23 men's four gold medalist Wilson Morton raced with former U23 National Team athlete Charles Fargo to finish third overall, followed by Andrew LeRoux and Olympian Billy Bender. 

Mia Levy and Olympian Regina Salmons continued their success this week after winning gold at World Cup III in the women's pair, finishing first in the speed order in a time of 6:42.40. Salmons raced in the women's eight at the 2024 Olympic Games, while Levy was a member of Yale's NCAA championship varsity eight and raced at the 2025 World Championships. They were followed by Olympian Charlotte Buck and Megan Lee of USTC–Princeton. Daisy Mazzio-Manson and Kaitlyn Kynast of USTC–Princeton finished third. 

Claire Friedlander of Penn AC won the lightweight women’s single sculls in 7:32.13. Aislinn O’Brien of Conshohocken Rowing Club finished second, followed by Kasey Shashaty of Riverside Boat Club in third. 

Patrick McKenna, Unaffiliated, won the under-23 lightweight men’s single sculls in 6:55.08, edging Simeon John of Union Rowing Club by 0.38 seconds in one of the day’s closest races. John opened the summer by winning both the youth men's single sculls at the Youth National Championships and the Youth Beach Sprint National Championships. William Gokey of King’s Crown Rowing Club finished third. 

Levi Munster of Sarasota Scullers won the U23 men’s single sculls in 6:48.63. Sam van Adrichem Boogaert of Green Racing Project finished second, followed by Cornel Ciocoi, Unaffiliated, in third. 

On the women's side, Cillian Mullen recorded an impressive 7:23.08, finishing more than 16 seconds ahead of second-place Grace Moore. Mullen returns to the trials after competing in the women's single sculls at the 2024 U23 World Championships. Mary Holder of Conshohocken Rowing Club claimed third, holding off Cecily Shaber of Unaffiliated by 0.26 seconds. 

The U23 men’s pair produced another of the day’s closest finishes. Nathaniel Duffy and Benjamin Vogel, Unaffiliated, posted the fastest time in 6:21.88, while Nathan Fineman and Andrew Nolan of the California Rowing Club edged Francis McGrath and Jack Kastner of Union Rowing Club by 0.09 seconds for second place. 

Gracelyn Theobald and Carly Brown, unaffiliated, won the U23 women’s pair in 7:06.07. Sophia Cavalieri and Alexandra Pearson of Green Racing Project finished second, while Emilie Bell and Alexandra Catlin of Connecticut River Training Center placed third. 

Racing continues tomorrow with semifinals and D-G finals in the men's and women's single sculls. Sunday's racing will feature finals in all events, including the Para categories.