FRM women's team expands

The First Rate Mortgage Cycling Team is expanding its women's team for 2008 to a dozen athletes. Four women from the west side of the Puget Sound have joined the team including Brenda Green, Lisa Lund, Kathi McMahon, and Tonia Schmidt. Also coming to FRM from Bainbridge are long-time, part-time racer Julie Houck and experienced triathlete Nora Masters, who has a few bike races on her resume as well.

Zana Faulkner and Jitka Cole have made the move from other teams. Sile Kiernan, who whisked herself off to the hospital (with a broken collarbone) before the officials knew she had crashed at Redmond Derby, brings the number of Irish nationals on the team to a lucky three.

New to racing, but no stranger to bikes, is Robin Secrist, who is making the transition from being a triathlete. Donna Peters will continue with the squad while Martha Walsh returns to the team after a year in another jersey.

The team supports category 3 and 4 racers in Washington state and it has its eye on some regional stage races and masters nationals, among other events, for 2008.