Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Team Wins National Championship

The Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Race Team finished first place in the junior division of the USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint National Championships in Seattle this past weekend.

This is the first National Team Championship win for head coach Alan Anderson and his 48 athletes. (Click here for full results.)

"The weekend was beyond my expectations. Our win was the largest margin of victory at nationals in any recent years. It was absolutely amazing and everyone contributed,” Anderson said in an interview with the ’s marketing department. “I am so proud of these kids and happy to bring home to Gig Harbor its FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN ANY SPORT."

According to an article on Teamusa.org, Anderson and his team went into the competition with one goal in mind: winning a national championship.

"This past spring, we sat down as a team and decided that this year it was not going to be about any individuals.  It was about the team and everyone played a role,” Anderson said. “As the weekend went on, I knew we were winning, but I kept telling each individual they had to really go for it to help the team. And they did."

The top 12 athletes from the championship will advance to compete at the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Hungary in September.

Click here for photos from the weekend event.