Although the spring season was cut short due to COVID-19, youth rowers are still finding great ways to stay in shape through opportunities such as virtual erg races. Recently, NPBRC rowers Luca Janus, Finn Yorty, Hudson Hale, and Grafton Gore raced at the USRowing Virtual Southeast Youth Regional Championship. In order to participate in this event, a 2000m piece needed to be completed and submitted. The top-3 in each event qualify to move onto Virtual Youth Nationals, which brings together the top rowers from across the country. North Palm Beach rowers placed extremely well at Regionals, competing against juniors all across the Southeast region, which consists of 12 states. Luca placed 4th in the Youth 1x with a time of 6:43.1. Finn went a 6:48.6 to place 1st in the Youth Lightweight 1x, qualifying him for Nationals. And Hudson and Grafton competed in the Youth Lightweight 2x, placing 4th with an average time of 7:03.75.
NPBRC Rower Finnegan Yorty went on to earn the club’s highest-ever finish at a National Championship in June, winning silver in the Men’s Lightweight category at the 2020 virtual youth National Championships. Finn submitted a personal best time of 6:45.5, just three seconds off the gold medal time. Finn, who began rowing just three years ago and will graduate in 2021, will enter his senior year as one of the most sought-after youth rowers in the country.
Congratulations to all these young men for an exceptional performance this year!