Area Sports

Sequim Gazette staff

Linda Allen, a Sequim athlete who began rowing last summer with the Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association, took second place at the Northwest Indoor Rowing Championships in Seattle on Feb. 4.

 

The competition, called “Ergomania” and sponsored by the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, included 500 athletes of all ages and levels who compete on indoor rowing machines called ergometers.

Competitors rowed either 500 meters, 1,000 or 2,000 meters in race categories set by age, class, gender and skills.

It was the inaugural competition for Allen who called it “exciting and miserable at the same time.”  She took second place in the 2,000-meter, 40-49 lightweight category, finishing the course in 8:00.1, a half-second better than her previous best.

 

Allen’s coach was Peter Becker and coxswain was Kassandra Grim.

 

Allen said she plans to be back competing indoors again next year and that it was “amazing watching the younger athletes.”

 

But what Allen said she really is looking forward to is getting back “on the water” again this year. The Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association has rowed regularly in Port Angeles Harbor from April through October since beginning three years ago. Other Sequim-area rowers include Allen’s daughter, as well as Don Berger and David Mittmann.

 

The association, which operates in partnership with the Clallam County YMCA, sent several youth rowers from Port Angeles, several of whom placed in the top three.

 

On-water rowing resumes in mid-March for veteran rowers with beginner classes to follow shortly thereafter. The youth program will offer on-water rowing and classes again in the spring.

 

The youth program presently operates out of the Port Angeles-based YMCA from 4-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Clallam County Family YMCA partners with the Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association to offer both youth and adult rowing.

 

For more information, call the YMCA at 452-9244 or e-mail youth coach Deana Volker at dvolker80@gmail.com.