The 2024 RowFest National Championships Concluded Today

The 2024 RowFest concluded today, July 21 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Over 1,900 boats in 356 events raced from 105 clubs including youth, under 17, under 23, open, and masters age groups. RowFest concluded the week of festivities with fireworks on Friday night and National Championships in masters events on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Athletes walked away with multiple medals after a fierce four days of tight racing. 

On Sunday, USRowing honored the Octogenarians competing at the event. 14 masters rowers who are aged 80 and up were celebrated in front of a large crowd. A few Octogenarians made clear they would be back next year to the delight of many in the crowd. Chinook Performance Rowing’s Margery Elsberg made sure to celebrate the moment with her husband Stuart, a fellow Octogenarian. 

500-meter sprints under the lights took place on Friday night. Athletes in single sculls and quadruple sculls competed for an opportunity to win $1000 and a bottle of Paris Valley Road champagne. In the women’s single, Next Level Rowing’s Sierra Cydrus dominated the final winning by over 10 seconds. James Barr crossed the finish line first in the men’s single. It was a close finish, just 1.64 seconds between him and San Diego Rowing Club’s Tom Peszek. Barr noted that he would be donating his winnings to a veteran’s organization. Texas Rowing Center and San Diego Rowing Club took the victory in the women’s and men’s quadruple sculls. 

In the women’s masters open F final, Chinook Performance Racing took first place by open water over second place finishers, Saugatuck Rowing Club. The eight from Chinook finished with a time of 3:13.81. 

Capital Rowing Club won the mixed masters B eight in a tight race with Lincoln Park Boat Club. The crew stroked by Lauren Fish finished just .29 seconds ahead of the Lincoln Park crew. A composite boat from Austin, Lake Oswego, Hollywood Rowing, Greater Houston, and Rocky Mountain finished in third place. 

In the women’s masters open B four, Texas Rowing Center won by over six seconds. A composite crew of Boulder and Capital Crew placed second in a time of 3:27.04. Carolina Masters and Rocky Mountain completed the top three.  

The men’s masters club E eight was won by Riverfront Recapture by over three seconds. Featuring board member, Andy Merrill in two seat, the crew finished in a time of 2:46.69. Texas Rowing Center came in second, followed by Austin Rowing Club. 

Only .77 seconds separated, Austin Rowing Club and Atlanta Rowing Club in the men’s masters club A quad. Austin Rowing took the victory in a time of 2:41.75. Atlanta placed second, followed by Lincoln Park. 

Click here for heat sheets and results. Gallery of photos can be found here.