Racing with the Best – Our Youth Take on the Nation’s Finest

Last week, along with over 2000 other rowers, three of our very own Maroochy River rowers stepped onto the national stage at the Australian National Sprint Championships—and what a performance they delivered!

Katie Harris and Djamila-Milou Heinz raced up with two fabulous girls, Georgia and Calli from Rocky Fitzroy in both the Under 21 Women’s Quad Scull (4x) and the Open Women’s Quad Sprint, competing in the A Final for both events. While they did not podium this time, making an A Final at this level placed them among the top eight quad crews in Australia—an absolutely extraordinary result for two athletes still eligible for Under 19 racing, and at their first ever Nationals comp. Their efforts, courage, and composure on the water put them in a league well above their age group, and we truly could not be more proud.

Zac Lazarus also rowed up an age group, pairing with Pierrick Cartier (from Commercial - ex MRRC) in the U21 Men’s Double Scull. The boys made it through their heat and repechage and missed out on the Semi-Final by just a few seconds, placing them  in the top 17–20 U21 men's doubles in the country. It was a gutsy and determined effort, showing just how much potential lies ahead for both of them.

The event itself was a rollercoaster of racing. The week featured brilliant performances and some brutal setbacks, with several crews catching crabs or even falling in. Conditions were volatile—at times, nearly unrowable—testing the resilience and technical skill of every athlete on the course.

For our club, this competition represents more than medals or placings. It’s about putting ourselves in the arena with the best in Australia and growing stronger from the experience. We hope this inspires many of our rowers to set their sights on qualifying for this event in 2026, which is expected to be held in Penrith, New South Wales.

We’re incredibly proud of Djamila, Katie, and Zac—not just for their results, but for the way they represented Maroochy River Rowing Club on a national stage.

Full results can be found here

Our photos and videos can be found here