Two locals were on the podium last week at the National Rowing Championships.
Hosted at Quamichan Lake in Duncan on Vancouver Island, the championships saw 184 crews from 37 clubs or provincial organizations take part on a standard 2,000 metre sprint course Sept. 30.
Among the plethora of athletes were six from Vernon, two racing from Team B.C., two for the University of Victoria and one with the Vernon Rowing and Dragon Boat Club (VRDBC).
Christa Akins, competing for the province in the para-rowing competition, earned gold in the women鈥檚 PR1 single scull event and received the prestigious Lagoa Rio Trophy for outstanding performance as a Para athlete.
Vernon local Elena Masyte, racing for UVic, was awarded bronze in the U23 women鈥檚 lightweight single scull category.
Another UVic athlete and Vernon graduate, Danica Ariano, finished fifth in the U23 women鈥檚 pair category, rowing with Mikaela Hilthuis from Team Alberta.
Other Vernon athletes who competed included Aida Mills, who finished fifth in the women鈥檚 single sculls category and VRDBC鈥檚 Hannah Mehain, coming fourth in the D final, 22nd overall in women single sculls.
The sole male competitor from Vernon, 17-year-old Jonas Masys, was 10th in the U23 men lightweight single scull race.
Prior to nationals, at a regatta in White Rock on Sept. 23, two crews scored gold medals.
Masys and Mills teamed up to win the junior crew title in mixed double scull while Doris Mills nabbed gold in open quads and mixed, with a crew mate from the Shuswap.
Full results on Nationals can be found at regattacentral.com.
The VRDBC is a hub for rowers and paddlers on Swan Lake and consistently strive to provide affordable opportunities for local community to engaged in physical activity and improve their physical and mental well-being.
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