Row New York Achieves Success in the Nation’s Capital: Capital Sprints Regatta

By Emma Buford

This past weekend Row New York’s high school girls made the journey down to Washington D.C. for the Capital Sprints Regatta. Packing up Friday morning, the girls made the four-hour journey south with a strong passion and willingness to win.

A 7:00am departure from Amanda Kraus’ father’s Maryland residence immediately put the girls into their race day mind set. Everyone knew they had a job to do once they arrived at the racecourse, whether it was putting up the tent, rigging boats, or unloading the trailer.

Row New York’s first race of the day was the Novice 4+ event. The five determined racers launched with confidence and came down the 1000-meter racecourse with even more. The novice 4+, made up of Amanda Ramdeholl (coxswain), Alina Siminiouk (4), Nicole Grice (3), Anthea Daley (2), and Rita Kopczynski (Bow), finished their race with a time of 4:24.0, about 20 seconds ahead of the competition! Our Varsity 4+ raced in the Open 4+ event and came in third after Capital Rowing Club and Alexandria Community Rowing with a time of 4:11.1. Following this event was the women’s novice single event, which featured Kelly Arango and Mariza Mae Dannang, who finished one second apart with times of 5:40.63 for Mariza and 5:41.78 for Kelly.

Following a short break, many of our new varsity members raced down the course in the Women’s Novice 8+. Two Row New York eights raced each other in this event and came in first and second place with times of 4:23.28 and 4:44.03, both ahead of the competition by over ten seconds! The winning eight featured Jackie Rodas (coxswain), Chloe Rosario (8), Nicole Doyle (7), Aline Siminiouk (6), Joy Enye (5), Kim Bush (4), Nicole Grice (3), Emma Parsons (2), and Kassandra Nevarez (Bow). The new varsity girls truly stepped it up for this regatta and proved that Row New York has a lot of new talent as they continue to grow.  Row New York’s last event of the day was the Women’s Open 8+, which featured Amanda Kraus, Row New York’s founder and Executive Director. This eight, comprised of May Sanchez (coxswain), Harlan Trevithick (8), Jennie Trayes (7), Amanda Kraus (6), Emma Buford (5), Amy VanHeel (4), Brittany Aiello (3), Breanne Fitzsimmons (2), and Charlotte Rendon (Bow), came in first place with a time of 3:53.60, finishing ten seconds ahead of second place. This boat featured both Row New York staff and alumni!

Everyone affiliated with the regatta welcomed Row New York and provided a competitive and friendly environment for all of our athletes and staff. After a long day of rowing, our girls headed back to the Kraus’s home in Maryland for a night filled with games, bonding, and great food. Our athletes visited George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia before heading back to New York City.

Thanks so much to the Capital Rowing Club for hosting this regatta. In addition, thanks to Mike Eichler and Breanne Fitzsimmons, our Varsity and Novice program directors. And finally, a huge thank you to Andrea and Ken Kraus for housing our athletes and staff for two nights!

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