45°
Competing in national rowing competitions is nothing new for Hilary Parkhurst. Then again, it has been nearly 30 years since she last rowed in a U.S. meet.
The Greenwich woman is one of three rowers from the SoNo Athletic Club heading to the USRowing Masters Nationals this week in Pennsauken, N.J. Parkhurst, Westport's Ann Faber and Steve Rawl will compete for SoNo.
Parkhurst rowed in high school and made the Junior National team in 1979. The Masters meet marks her return to national competition. She will row in a single and in a mixed double with Rawl. "A lot of the rowers are the same ones that I competed against in high school,'' says Parkhurst, whose daughter Catherine rows for Princeton. "I just want to make the final in the single." Parkhurst says her age division is one of the most difficult. "Rowers in their 40s are more competitive than those in their 30s,'' she says. "They're off having babies and raising their families and the rowers in their 40s are more settled and devote more time to training."
Faber has the busiest schedule of the SoNo rowers. She will compete in four events. The 65-year-old plans to compete in four events. Faber, an assistant coach on the Fairfield Prep rowing team, has competed in two previous Masters championships.
"A lot of women have found rowing a great sport at my age,'' Faber says. "It's a thrill to row with these women who are 70 and 75 years old. It's amazing to get out there and watch them do it."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
