YAKIMA, Wash. – The city's fairgrounds came alive with excitement as Yakima hosted its first-ever sprint boat racing competition. Over 30 boats participated in this two-day event, drawing spectators from across the Pacific Northwest.

Boats zoomed across the water at speeds up to 90 miles per hour on the first day of racing. Kathy Kramer, State Fair President and CEO, shared her thoughts on the event's significance.

"It's about the boats. It's about the spectator. I step back and look at it, and for two and a half years, we've been working to make this a reality. So this is a really special day for all of us," she said.

The fairgrounds joined the American Sprint Boat Racing ( ASBR ) circuit, expecting nearly 5,000 spectators for the weekend's inaugural race. Two well-known racers fro

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