70 Placement Finals Complete at the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships

Saturday's racing at the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships featured 70 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 854 boats from 225 clubs across the country bringing in just over 4,000 athletes to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla.

"The Boys in the Boat" actor Luke Slattery joined the festivities, signing autographs on unis, crocs, and a baby. Slattery joined Maurice Scott and World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals Champions Chris Bak and Kory Rogers for a quick row in a coastal shell, before jumping into the announcing booth to call a few races with Aquil Abdullah.

Less than one second separated Triangle Rowing Club's Aidan Humbert and Redwood Scullers' Maddock Flynn in the C final of the men's youth single. Humbert clocked a 7:39.58, with Flynn finishing in a 7:40.25. With the C final victory, Humbert finished in 17th overall.

In the B final of the men's under 16 eight, Oakland Strokes took the top spot in a close, four-boat race. White Rock Boathouse inched out to a lead at the midway point before falling back to fourth in the last 500. Oakland Strokes and New Trier were in close pursuit and were able to move past White Rock. Oakland Strokes took the win and finished with a time of 6:39.14, with Space Coast Crew and New Trier taking second and third. 

In the C final of the women's youth single sculls, The Academy of the Holy Names' Sophia Mitchell came back in the final 1000 meters to claim the victory and place 17th overall. Mitchell trailed early but was able to pass Star Rowing's Nora Brock for the win in a time of 8:35.22, finishing 2.46 seconds in front. Brock held off Rogue Rowing's Amelie Requejo to take second. Requejo finished third with a time of 8:41.26.

The C final of the women's youth double sculls saw Eugene Rowing Club hold off Baltimore Rowing Club by less than two seconds to take 17th overall. Eugene Rowing Club finished with a time of 8:05.49, while Baltimore Rowing Club clocked a 8:07.36.

In the B final for the women's U17 eight, Whitemarsh Boat Club took the win by just over 3 seconds in a time of 7:14.45. With their victory, they finish ninth overall. The race for second was within one second between three crews, Dallas United Crew, Chicago Rowing Federation, and RowAmerica Rye B. Dallas United Crew was able to inch ahead by .3 seconds over Chicago Rowing Federation for second place. 

Deerfield Academy Crew overtook Chicago Rowing Foundation to win the C final of the men's youth eight by 2.36 seconds. Chicago Rowing Federation led through the 1,000-meter mark before Deerfield Academy caught them to finish 17th overall. Deerfield finished with a time of 6:09.48, with Chicago crossing in a 6:11.86

The C final of the men's varsity four with coxswain was decided by a foot as San Diego Rowing Club defeated Lake Oswego Community Rowing by .26 seconds to earn 17th place overall. Middlesex School held the lead for the first half of the race before the San Diego Rowing Club moved into first. San Diego Rowing Club won with a time of 6:48.81. Lake Oswego Community Rowing's strong second half pushed their bow ball into second place finishing with a time of 6:49.07. 

Click here for today's complete results.

Racing concludes Sunday with A finals (medal races) for all boat classes and B finals for youth boat classes. Click here for a complete schedule. 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 and check out our feature on Montclair High School's men's pair, who will be racing in the A final on Sunday at 7:48 a.m. 

Follow USRowing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Be sure to tag #YouthNats24 and @usrowing in your posts for a chance to be featured.