Three boats from Sammamish Rowing Association place within the top six in the country in their events at US Rowing Youth Nationals in June 12 to 14 in Sarasota, Fla.

Among them were three Valley students, Connor Lien of North Bend, Madison Mariani of Snoqualmie and Elijah Maesner of Duvall.

Lien rowed in the men’s lightweight youth 8+ boat, which finished sixth in finals.

Mariani and Maesner were both on the men’s varsity team, which set a Sammamish speed record in its final race, finishing fifth.

Sammamish Rowing also sent a women’s lightweight 4+ team to nationals. The women finished fourth in finals, with the fastest time they’ve ever posted.

Sammamish Rowing members were among 1,500 high school athletes from 150 clubs across the nation who competed at Nathan-Benderson Park, an Olympic-class rowing venue, in Sarasota.  Many of them missed graduation ceremonies to compete at nationals.