Second Time in Two Years Florida Plays Host to This Prestigious Event
Celebrations, ceremonies and great competition planned throughout the weekend
Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla. (May 31, 2017) – An estimated 1,700 of the USA’s top youth rowers will descend on Nathan Benderson Park for USRowing’s 21st annual Youth National Championships being held June 9-11. The championships, which serve as the premier junior rowing event in the USA, sees approximately 1,700 athletes competing in more than 370 crews representing more than 150 teams from across the country vying for national titles in 18 boat classes.
Racing is scheduled to begin Friday at 8 a.m. with heats. Repechages and semi-finals will take place Saturday beginning at 8:00 a.m. Finals will begin on Sunday at 8 a.m.
Robert J. Sullivan, CFE, president and CEO of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, Inc. (SANCA), is honored that Nathan Benderson Park was selected once again as this year’s championship venue and is ready to play host to the country’s best youth rowers and their families.
“The park has successfully held many high-profile events and we are pleased to welcome back the Youth Rowing Championships this year,” said Sullivan. “This event will be a great precursor to the 2017 World Rowing Championships taking place here in September. Our world-class rowing facility coupled with all the amenities the Sarasota-Bradenton area has to offer, makes this a wonderful destination for competitors, spectators and sports enthusiasts.”
USRowing will once again recognize the academic achievements of the athletes competing at the Championships. Athletes that have already graduated, or skipped their graduation to compete, are invited to attend a special graduation recognition ceremony in the VIP tent at Nathan Benderson Park
on Thursday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m.
To cap off the championship weekend, USRowing will sponsor an Olympic Day at NBP on Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Olympians and Paralympians who have competed at the highest level of the sport of rowing will be at the park greeting athletes and spectators; posing for pictures and signing autographs.
“This is a unique opportunity to experience the country’s best youth rowing at a world-class venue. There is so much interest in Nathan Benderson Park throughout the sport and we’re all looking forward to a thrilling three days of racing,” said acting USRowing CEO Susan Smith. “We are excited about the partnership with NBP and expect a tremendous turnout, setting the stage for 2017 World Rowing Championships.”
General Admission tickets for all spectators attending the 2017 Youth National Championships are available online. Daily tickets are $10, or a 3-day pass is available for $25. Tickets include admission to the spectator and team tent areas during race days. Parking is $5/day at Nathan Benderson Park.
For more information about USRowing Youth Nationals competition visit www.nathanbendersonpark.org or http://www.usrowing.org/events_new/youthnationals, and https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?job_id=5100 for a list of teams competing.
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ABOUT SANCA
The Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, Inc. (SANCA), is a not-for-profit business created to manage Nathan Benderson Park, a county-owned, community/public asset and world-class, multi-use sports venue. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for our community and be an economic generator for the Sarasota-Bradenton area. SANCA’s primary purpose is to develop and promote Nathan Benderson Park as a world class event center, team training site and Sarasota County Park, while providing outreach programs through recreation, safety training, education and volunteering as a service to our community.
ABOUT USROWING
USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing has 75,000 individual members and 1,200 member organizations, offering rowing programs, coaching education and referee certification.