Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Bluejay Rowing to Host World Record Attempt at 2K Challenge on Saturday
2/4/2025 3:51:00 PM | Rowing
Omaha, Neb. -- On the morning of February 8 at 7:30 a.m., during Creighton Rowing's 10th Annual 2K Challenge, friend of the program Nancy McCormick will attempt to break a World Record in D.J. Sokol Arena. Already the record holder in the 85-89 age range, the 90-year-old McCormick is hoping to add another age group mark to her trophy case.
McCormick set the record for the U.S. 1,000-meter rowing challenge in the 85-89 age range group back in 2020 at the annual fundraising event, with the training help of a Creighton Rowing assistant coach. She cut the previous record in half, but missed the international record by only a few seconds. With a new year and another birthday passed in January, she is ready to tackle the world record, this time in a new age group. Her goal is to row the equivalent of 1,000 meters in less than 5:56.9 for the national record and less than 5:27.1 to claim a world record for the 90-94 age range. Creighton Coach Daniel Chipps and his team will not only be documenting McCormick's official record attempt, but cheering for her as well.
"I've known Nancy a long time. It is spectacular that she's still doing this," Chipps said. "In athletics, records are made to be broken. We'll be out in full force rooting her on."
McCormick spoke with Chipps recently to check the weight requirements for the record attempt, as the Creighton team will collect the necessary data to make the attempt official. While she still calls on the Bluejays for advice, she has been training with Bella Daugherty, a certified rowing instructor, at the Jewish Community Center. She also goes to UNMC's Engage Wellness two or three days a week for cross training, including weights, flexibility and group classes, and because she enjoys being part of the community at the center. Alongside her Creighton supporters, McCormick has found a welcoming home at Engage Wellness.
"She is kind of an institution," said Meg Davis, program manager at Engage Wellness. "She has our support here, and she's really embraced all that we have to offer – stretching classes, line dancing classes, fitness. She's been here long enough to be familiar with the equipment and do her own thing, but at the same time, when she wants or needs to do something different, she will ask one of our wellness specialists to modify her exercise to continue to challenge her."
With 90 years of life comes adversity, and lots of change. McCormick did not start out as a record-setting rower. She was once a highly competitive runner who completed 12 marathons, including the prestigious Boston Marathon. When a knee operation forced to her find a new competitive outlet, Nancy discovered rowing. With a persistent focus on competition, she set her mind to a different kind of race and starting training to break records. Being in a new age group, and five years since her last record she is ready to compete again, but she has a different motivation this time.
"Peter died in October," she said softly. "I want to do it for him. It helps me to come here and see people, the friends that I've met. When I was rowing the first time, everybody here was behind me. A lot of them came and watched at Creighton. It was nice." She is doing this record in a tribute for her late husband Peter Brodkey who supported her along this journey, by gifting her a personal rowing machine for their home.
She is looking forward to attempting this record and the team is anticipating her success this year. "Creighton holds this event every year to raise money for their rowing program," McCormick said. She is happy to support them while they support her.
Her remarkable feats prove that age is just a number, and hard-work is what truly matters. Even though she just turned 90 she believes she is fully ready to tackle this record. "Racers race," she said. With a tight-knit community behind her, the world will be watching her race on Saturday at 7:30 am.
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McCormick set the record for the U.S. 1,000-meter rowing challenge in the 85-89 age range group back in 2020 at the annual fundraising event, with the training help of a Creighton Rowing assistant coach. She cut the previous record in half, but missed the international record by only a few seconds. With a new year and another birthday passed in January, she is ready to tackle the world record, this time in a new age group. Her goal is to row the equivalent of 1,000 meters in less than 5:56.9 for the national record and less than 5:27.1 to claim a world record for the 90-94 age range. Creighton Coach Daniel Chipps and his team will not only be documenting McCormick's official record attempt, but cheering for her as well.
"I've known Nancy a long time. It is spectacular that she's still doing this," Chipps said. "In athletics, records are made to be broken. We'll be out in full force rooting her on."
McCormick spoke with Chipps recently to check the weight requirements for the record attempt, as the Creighton team will collect the necessary data to make the attempt official. While she still calls on the Bluejays for advice, she has been training with Bella Daugherty, a certified rowing instructor, at the Jewish Community Center. She also goes to UNMC's Engage Wellness two or three days a week for cross training, including weights, flexibility and group classes, and because she enjoys being part of the community at the center. Alongside her Creighton supporters, McCormick has found a welcoming home at Engage Wellness.
"She is kind of an institution," said Meg Davis, program manager at Engage Wellness. "She has our support here, and she's really embraced all that we have to offer – stretching classes, line dancing classes, fitness. She's been here long enough to be familiar with the equipment and do her own thing, but at the same time, when she wants or needs to do something different, she will ask one of our wellness specialists to modify her exercise to continue to challenge her."
With 90 years of life comes adversity, and lots of change. McCormick did not start out as a record-setting rower. She was once a highly competitive runner who completed 12 marathons, including the prestigious Boston Marathon. When a knee operation forced to her find a new competitive outlet, Nancy discovered rowing. With a persistent focus on competition, she set her mind to a different kind of race and starting training to break records. Being in a new age group, and five years since her last record she is ready to compete again, but she has a different motivation this time.
"Peter died in October," she said softly. "I want to do it for him. It helps me to come here and see people, the friends that I've met. When I was rowing the first time, everybody here was behind me. A lot of them came and watched at Creighton. It was nice." She is doing this record in a tribute for her late husband Peter Brodkey who supported her along this journey, by gifting her a personal rowing machine for their home.
She is looking forward to attempting this record and the team is anticipating her success this year. "Creighton holds this event every year to raise money for their rowing program," McCormick said. She is happy to support them while they support her.
Her remarkable feats prove that age is just a number, and hard-work is what truly matters. Even though she just turned 90 she believes she is fully ready to tackle this record. "Racers race," she said. With a tight-knit community behind her, the world will be watching her race on Saturday at 7:30 am.
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