CIUDAD GUZMAN, Mexico - A trio of preliminary wins set the stage for the U.S. team as it started its XVI Pan American Games 2011 campaign Saturday in Ciudad Guzman. With the conclusion of today's program, seven crews advanced to the medal rounds.
The men's double sculls team of Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Andrew Quinn (Cherry Hill, N.J.) started the day by winning its race for lanes with a time of 6:45:59, followed by the 7:31:72 first-place effort of Meg George (Houston, Texas) and Megan Smith (Kansas City, Mo.) in the women's pair.
Michelle Sechser (Folsom, Calif.) and Chelsea Smith (Edina, Minn.) came back from sixth place after the first 500 meters in lightweight women's double sculls race for lanes to grab a first-place finish and top seed in the finals on Oct. 18.
"This was first time I've ever competed for U.S.," Sechser said. "For how young we are as athletes, we were composed. We clawed our way back into first place and are in position for the finals on Tuesday."
The men's four of Matt Wheeler (Eugene, Ore.), Joe Spencer (Washington, D.C.), Steve Kasprzyk (Cinnaminson, N.J.) and Jason Read (Ringoes, N.J.) finished second in the morning heat (6:07:43) and then second in its repechage, or second-chance race, to advance to the final.
The women's double sculls crew of Catherine Reddick (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Megan Walsh (Charlotte, N.C.) finished second in its heat (7:24:97) and then won the repechage to advance to the final.
The lightweight men's double sculls crew of Tom Paradiso (Blue Bell, Pa.) and Bob Duff (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) finished second in the heat (6:45:14), but came back to win the rep to advance.
Ken Jurkowski (New Fairfield, Conn.) finished fourth in men's single sculls (7:28:27) and won the repechage to advance.
Rowing competition on Lake Zapotlan continues Sunday at 9 a.m. CST with racing in seven disciplines. Heats and repechages will be contested in four events including the lightweight men's four, women's single sculls, men's pair and lightweight women's single sculls.
For three other boat categories - the men's eight and men's and women's quadruple sculls - Sunday's races serve as a "race for lanes" to determine placement in the finals next week.
"It's a great honor and opportunity to compete with some of the best in the world. I am happy to be here," said Beijing Olympian Margot Shumway (Westlake, Ohio), who is up against Argentina, Canada, Mexico and Cuba in the first heat of the women's single. "My goal is to execute my race plan and compete to the best of my abilities. At this level of competition, everyone is to be respected. You can never count anyone out and I am expecting a great race from everyone entered."
More than 6,000 athletes from 42 countries will compete in this year's Games, held every four years, a year out from the Summer Olympic Games. Rowing has been a part of the Pan American Games since 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the last Pan American Games, held in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United States brought home seven medals on the men's side and three medals on the women's side, for a total of ten.
The 2011 Pan American Games are the third Pan American Games hosted by Mexico and the first held in the state of Jalisco. Previously, Mexico hosted the 1955 Pan American Games and the 1975 Pan American Games, both in Mexico City.
For a full U.S. roster, athlete bios and features, visit www.usrowing.org.