The 2026 Sarasota Invitational at Nathan Benderson Park in Florida provides an early-season opportunity to compare Florida and Southeastern teams before the state and regional Championships. This year, there are 497 youth entries, with 211 of those being in women’s events. In this preview, we will cover the women’s first and second varsity eights as well as the top events in the four, quad and double.
Varsity Eight
The premier event with seven entries, this is the last women’s race on Saturday. Contested as a straight final, expect St. Thomas Aquinas and Academy of the Holy Names to be well placed in the centre of the course. Miami Beach and Lake Brantley will surely flank them, and Pinecrest and Sarasota Scullers will fill the outside lanes. Aquinas placed sixth at SRAA Nationals in 2025 – expect to see them out in front by the 500-metre mark. I predict Aquinas in first, Miami Beach second, and Holy Names third.
Junior Varsity Eight
Comprised of teams with a varsity eight already entered, the ‘jay-vee’ event is a showcase of team depth and a point of pride for large squads. Aquinas once again enters as the forerunner, having placed seventh at SRAA Nationals in the second Varsity eight. Miami Beach is a potential favourite for the silver, as their large squad allows them to have strong intra-squad competition. In bronze, potentially Pinecrest or Holy Names.
Varsity Coxed Four
A highly competitive event at the Florida State Championships, the heavily entered Varsity coxed four will be one of the races of the day. With out-of-state teams like Charlotte Youth Rowing entered, expect a high level of competition. I predict Miami Beach or Lake Brantley to fight for the gold, with Charlotte and Gainesville Area Rowing in hot pursuit. This will go down to the wire, and expect to see three or four boats in a row come the red buoys.
High School Quadruple Scull
The premier women’s sculling event, the high school quad, will be the top boat for many programs this weekend. Miami Beach and Hillsborough are each fielding three entries, with Miami Rowing Club and Vero Beach sending two boats each. With a rising interest in sculling in Florida, expect sharp blade work from these quads. To win, I would pick Miami Beach, second being Miami International Row House, and third St. Thomas Aquinas.
High School Double Scull
The most subscribed event, the high school double, boasts 48 entries with many teams sending two or three pairings. Miami Beach and Miami, being two of the premier sculling programs in Florida, should be in pole position for the medals. Don’t count out First Coast or South Orlando, however, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Windsor High School from the Bahamas causes an upset to reach the podium.
Predictions
The 2026 iteration of the Sarasota Invitational promises to be exciting with close racing. In the first and second eights, expect to see Aquinas, with their national pedigree, out in front. In the sculling events, Miami Beach and Miami should dominate. The over 200 women’s entries bode well for women’s rowing in Florida.
