A Bothell High School athlete Peyton James helped Sammamish Rowing to a fourth-place finish during the US Rowing Youth National Championships June 12-14 in Sarasota, Fla.

Sammamish Rowing was part of 1,500 high school athletes from 150 clubs across the nation that competed at Nathan-Benderson Park, a new Olympic-class rowing venue. Many of the seniors missed graduation in order to compete at nationals. Sammamish Rowing Association’s Competitive Junior Program had an incredibly strong showing with all three of their boats rowing their hearts out all weekend over 2-3 heats and semifinals each to earn a spot in their respective grand finals.

In the Women’s Lightweight Youth four-plus grand final, Sammamish crossed the finish line in fourth place, just two seconds from third place behind crews from Long Beach Junior Crew, Cambridge and Miami Rowing teams.