Rowing | Olympic trials at Benderson are culmination of sport's growth in Florida

SARASOTA -- Hunter Leeming began his rowing career 15 miles south of Nathan Benderson Park, where he just spent the week gunning for a spot in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The 2011 Riverview High School graduate spent his formative years rowing with the Sarasota Crew Club in Osprey, first at Historic Spanish Point and then at Bay Preserve at Osprey.

Sarasota Crew moved its operations to Bay Preserve for Leeming's sophomore season with 16 rowers, two hand-built boat racks and plenty of space for growth.

Benderson Park was still in its infancy. Rowing wasn't prominent in Sarasota or Manatee counties.

It's a little hard for Leeming to believe how the sport has grown in this part of the country. Benderson played host to the USRowing Olympic trials all week and next year will host the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

"It's taken off exponentially," Leeming said.

Leeming's quest for the 2016 Olympics fell short Friday when he failed to win his qualifying heat and repechage (consolation bracket) in Sarasota.

The Sarasota-based lightweight tandem of Rosa Kemp and Monica Whitehouse will row its rep round Saturday.

Trials won't conclude until Sunday, but Friday was sort of an informal welcome by USRowing.

Glenn Merry, CEO of USRowing, called Benderson the organization's "second home" and praised the rapid development of the park, which just began holding regattas in 2009. While standing at the venue, which hosts the high-school championships, Merry pointed out the 500-percent growth rate of the sport in Florida.

"You can see a window into the future for this venue. Olympic trials are the pinnacle for our athlete pool," Merry said. "This is a growth destination for rowing."

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 11:56 PM with the headline "Rowing | Olympic trials at Benderson are culmination of sport's growth in Florida ."