Pyeatt takes third in WAC 800 finals

Riley Pyeatt, a 2022 Sequim High graduate and sophomore at Abilene Christian University (Texas), raced to a third place finish in the 800 meters at the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor track and field championships, held May 9-11 in Orem, Utah.

Pyeatt set a personal best in the 800 with a 2:08.62, finishing only behind Joanna Archer of Grand Canyon (2:04.17) and Winnie Kipsang of University of Texas-Arlington (2:04.61).

Pyeatt ran a personal-best 2 minutes, 9.27 seconds in the 800 preliminaries at the WAC championships held at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. In the finals, she finished third with a time of 2:12.63, but her time was adjusted to 2:08.62 because of Orem’s elevation of 4,774 feet (Abilene is at 1,700 feet above sea level).

Pyeatt finished her high school career with a total of 34 first-place finishes her senior year in track and cross country. She won races that ranged from the 100-meter dash to the 1,600-meter run.

She signed with Abilene Christian in Abilene, Texas, and had some success her freshman year with five top-10 finishes. She has improved in her sophomore year with three victories at 800 and 1,500 meters and eight top-three finishes in both indoor and outdoor track.

Learn to row

Sequim Bay Yacht Club is now taking registrations for the June session of its sculling how-to course.

The course, which includes one orientation session and five 7 a.m. on-the-water practices, is open to those 18 and older who can pass a float and basic fitness tests.

Cost is $275 (with a rebate for those who do join the club upon completion of the course). Yacht club membership is not required. Personal flotation devices are provided.

For details, see sequimbayyacht.club/learn-to-row.

Pinch, Hit & Run contest in June

Registration is underway for a Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run contest hosted by the Port Angeles Lefties on June 24.

Group testing will begin at 10 a.m. at Civic Field. The contest is free.

Boys and girls ages 7-14 as of November 2024 are eligible to participate in a series of baseball and softball drills with the goal of earning the most points in their age group and advancing to compete in the Seattle Mariners team championship.

Winners at the Mariners stage advance to the national finals at the World Series.

Participants should bring nonmetal spikes, bat and glove.

To register, tinyurl.com/PDN-PinchHitRun24.

Women’s flag football league

A summer flag football league for women ages 18 and older will begin June 10 and run through July 15.

The league will have a six-week schedule including playoffs with teams organized into divisions based on grade level.

Practices are held 45 minutes prior to Monday evening games at the Monroe Playfield, 106 Monroe Road.

The registration fee is $150. A jersey and flags will be included.

To register, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-WomensFlagFB.

For more information, call 360-775-4338.

Bainbridge fly fishers group sets meeting

Leland Miyawaki, a local expert on coastal cutthroat will present at the Bainbridge Island Fly Fishers meeting, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at Seabold Hall, 14450 Komedal Road NE.

Over 30 years ago, Leland tied up his first “Miyawaki Beach Popper.” It is a surface fly that mimics crippled baitfish that Leland fishes off Puget Sound to catch wild coastal cutthroat and coho salmon on his flyrod.

Attendees will learn life cycles, food, timing and tides, techniques, and methods to catch coastal cutthroat at this program. They are asked to bring a fly or donate a dollar to participate in the raffle for all flies that are put in the basket.

Photo courtesy of Bainbridge Island Fly Fishers / Leland Miyawaki, a local expert on coastal cutthroat, is the featured guest speaker at the Bainbridge Island Fly Fishers on May 28.

Miyawaki began fly fishing in 1968 when he sent away for a complete fly-fishing outfit from LL Bean and a beginning fly tying kit from Orvis. After receiving his new rod and reel, he laid down his spinning rod forever and began to teach himself to cast and tie flies.

Exactly one year later to the day, he caught a small brook trout on his own fly. Since then, Leland has fished most of the streams and lakes of California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington; the well-known hot-spots in New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana; the great steelhead rivers in British Columbia; and one well-guarded secret river in Idaho.

Leland fishes and guides on the local Puget Sound beaches for coastal cutthroat and coho salmon with his surface fly exclusively – the “Miyawaki Beach Popper.” He currently works part-time at Avid Angler in Lake Forest Park, Washington.

All adults and families are invited to attend.

For more information, send questions to info@BainbridgeIslandFlyFishers.org or call 206-718-2254.