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USRowing National Championships opens in Sarasota


  • By Jay Heater
  • | 8:16 p.m. June 11, 2026
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo heads to the finish of the Women's Youth 1x Thursday at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. She qualified for Friday's semifinal by placing eighth in 7:54.36.
Photo by Jay Heater
  • East County
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As Sarasota Crew's Gabrielle DeLeo headed to the finish line Thursday at Nathan Benderson Park in the Women's 1x class of the USRowing Youth National Championships, the collective beat of the hearts of her family members might have been pounding even faster than her own.

Her dad, Dan DeLeo; her mom, Laura DeLeo; and her sister, Bella DeLeo, were all moving down the shore as her boat passed.

"She puts so much blood, sweat, and toil into this," Dan DeLeo said after watching his daughter finish eighth in the time trial Thursday in 7:54.36. "We all are incredibly excited."

Gabrielle DeLeo has moved into Friday's semifinal and will need a big effort to make the national finals. The event runs through Sunday.

Thursday's time trials were delayed about three hours by lightning. The stoppage came approximately at 2:30 p.m.

"It takes all these rowers time, dedication and commitment," said Dan DeLeo, who is on the Sarasota Crew's board.

Garbrielle DeLeo is headed to Georgetown University next semester to compete on its rowing team.

For more information on the USRowing Youth National Championships along with starting times and results, go to USRowing.regatta.time-team.com/usrowing-youth-national/2026. 

 
The Sarasota Men's Youth 4+ team finished 21st Thursday and the rowers show the pain of going all out in a national championship event. From left to right are Lawrence Downyok, Jason Alickolli, Keven Hwang, Spencer Johnson, and Coxswain Anna Kim.
The Sarasota Men's Youth 4+ team finished 21st Thursday and the rowers show the pain of going all out in a national championship event. From left to right are Lawrence Downyok, Jason Alickolli, Keven Hwang, Spencer Johnson, and Coxswain Anna Kim.
Photo by Jay Heater
The Sarasota Women's Youth 2V 4x team has advanced to the semifinals of the USRowing Youth National Championships Friday at 10:23 a.m. Ruby Obine-Galvin, Aubree DeCraene, Tara Schroeder, and Megan Scarbrough finished in 16th place Thursday to get the final semifinal berth.
The Sarasota Women's Youth 2V 4x team has advanced to the semifinals of the USRowing Youth National Championships Friday at 10:23 a.m. Ruby Obine-Galvin, Aubree DeCraene, Tara Schroeder, and Megan Scarbrough finished in 16th place Thursday to get the final semifinal berth.
Photo by Jay Heater
You could say that the Sarasota Crew has all its oars in a row.
You could say that the Sarasota Crew has all its oars in a row.
Photo by Jay Heater
Nathan Benderson Park is stacked with boats and tents to host approximately 4,000 rowers for the USRowing Youth National Championships that runs through Sunday.
Nathan Benderson Park is stacked with boats and tents to host approximately 4,000 rowers for the USRowing Youth National Championships that runs through Sunday.
Photo by Jay Heater
The Sarasota Women's Youth 4x team heads back to shore after finishing 13th (6:56.76) in the time trials Thursday to qualify for the semifinals Friday at 10:51 a.m. They are (top to bottom) Audrey Reuter, Adrianna Cavallo, Annalise Naylor, and Karley Hendricks.
The Sarasota Women's Youth 4x team heads back to shore after finishing 13th (6:56.76) in the time trials Thursday to qualify for the semifinals Friday at 10:51 a.m. They are (top to bottom) Audrey Reuter, Adrianna Cavallo, Annalise Naylor, and Karley Hendricks.
Photo by Jay Heater
Approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday, storm clouds and lighting moved over Nathan Benderson Park. Rowers on the lake who were competing were told to
Approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday, storm clouds and lighting moved over Nathan Benderson Park. Rowers on the lake who were competing were told to "evacuate," and then came directly to shore. The event was delayed more than three hours.
Photo by Jay Heater
Competing at the USRowing Youth National Championships can be nerve wracking so Kat Wu, the coxswain for the Green Lake Crew of Seattle takes a few moments Thursday to be one with her team's boat.
Competing at the USRowing Youth National Championships can be nerve wracking so Kat Wu, the coxswain for the Green Lake Crew of Seattle takes a few moments Thursday to be one with her team's boat.
Photo by Jay Heater
Rowing fans have plenty of booths to check out during the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. The event runs through Sunday.
Rowing fans have plenty of booths to check out during the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. The event runs through Sunday.
The rowers, their families and rowing fans have plenty of bling to choose at Nathan Benderson Park during the USRowing Youth National Championships. The event runs through Sunday's finals.
The rowers, their families and rowing fans have plenty of bling to choose at Nathan Benderson Park during the USRowing Youth National Championships. The event runs through Sunday's finals.
Photo by Jay Heater
Tabitha Pahl (center) of Renton, Washington brought her family and friends to Sarasota for the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. Approximately 4,000 athletes are competing.
Tabitha Pahl (center) of Renton, Washington brought her family and friends to Sarasota for the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. Approximately 4,000 athletes are competing.
Photo by Jay Heater

 

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