HRRC Erg Pull

The Hampton Roads Rowing Club held their annual regional erg pull in our gym on Saturday February 23rd. A few members of our team (and their families!) competed in various events. Others assisted in the concession stand (under our new 10' x 20' rowing tent!) or helped with the Catholic Middle School Science Bowl which was held concurrently.

Many folks posted personal records (PRs) for their 2000m times and for the first time we had enough competitors to enter the "team challenge" events at the end of the day. Setting PRs were the two Sean Ds., Charlie S., Jake K., Zach B., James J., Nicole H., and Ashley L.

Highlights include Sean D. dropping another 5 seconds from his performance the previous week at the Mid-Atlantic Erg Pull/WIRC, posting a time of 7:03.5 and taking a silver medal in the Junior Lightweights.  Also our four fastest guys (the two Sean D.s, Charlie S. and Jake K.) competed in the team challenge against two teams from Hickory and a team from Granby. They averaged a 1:45.2/500m pace and led for most of the race only to fall behind one of the Hickory teams in the last 100 meters. Considering all four of our guys are 11th graders and that two are actual lightweights, and that Hickory has been rowing since August, it was an outstanding effort.

On the girls' side Ashley L. put in an "Iron-woman" performance, competing in the 2000m Junior Women's event (setting a PR), then rowing in the 500m middle school event (since she is an eighth grader) and then joining Clare D., Margaret L., and Aubrey C. in the 1000m Women's Team Challenge.

Other notable performances were from Christian G. who won the 500m middle school event with a time of 1:45.3, his brother Patrick who finished second in the 250m elementary school event with a time of 1:08.3, and Kate K. who was swallowed up in a coxswain's jersey but completed the 250m row in a time of 1:25.2.

Enjoy some pictures of the agony and the ecstasy.