Sarasota, Florida – High Point rowers are off to a strong start at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships with 5 of 6 of the club’s boats advancing through the first round this morning.
Opening racing for High Point, Junior Ognovich and Arte Blythe, both finished among the top 14 single scullers to qualify for finals this afternoon.
In some tight racing, Lindsay York and Molly Hilemn finished 9th in the women’s pairs time trial. With only the first 7 qualifying for the final the two just missed the Sunday final.
Next up Will Hundley and Harry Capizzi finished 5th in the time trial for men’s pairs and thus qualifying for the final on Sunday.
Next up, High Point’s Ainsley Fox and Charlotte Curri qualified for the final on Sunday in the women’s lightweight double scull.
Ashley Walker and Emily Winberg then raced the women’s open weight double scull. Despite only recently being paired together, the two qualified for afternoon semi final racing.
In other afternoon racing, Matthew Hronich and Jacob Messick will race in the first round heats of U17 boys double sculls. With 20 entries this may be the most competitive field at the regional championships. The two are no strangers to competition, however, after winning the same event at the Dogwood Junior Championships two weeks ago.
In tomorrow’s finals, Molly Hilemn, Arte Blythe. Kinkead Crotts, and Charlotte Curri, will also be racing in the women’s U17 quadscull event. High Point won bronze in this event in 2017.
Held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships will feature 1,406 athletes from 49 clubs racing in 416 boats. The regional championship is a must stop on the road to the national championships. Crews must finish in the top three in their regional to qualify for nationals, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif., in June.
