CIUDAD GUZMAN, Mexico - Finals are set for Monday, with the completion of a gusty second day of preliminary racing on Lake Zapotlan in Ciudad Guzman. Despite a short break in the race schedule due to high winds, seven U.S. crews saw action on Sunday including the lightweight men's four, women's single sculls, men's pair, lightweight women's single sculls, men's eight and men's and women's quadruple sculls.
Ty Otto (Seattle, Wash.) and Michael Gennaro (Havertown, Pa.) won the second heat of the men's pair by more than five seconds to highlight racing. Otto and Gennaro clocked a 6:45.85 to Cuba's 6:51.00.
In the women's single, Beijing Olympian Margot Shumway (Westlake, Ohio) finished third in her morning heat (7:57.97), but returned to win the afternoon repechage, or second-chance race, in an 8:02.93 to advance to the final. Jen Goldsack (Banstead, U.K.) followed suit in the lightweight women's single with a second-place heat finish (8:25.32) leading up to her repechage win (8:02.48).
The lightweight men's four of Ryan Kirlin (Medford, N.J.), Josh Gautreau (New Ipswich, N.H.), Frank Petrucci (Warwick, N.Y.) and Rob Milam (Idaho Falls, Idaho) finished third in its heat. In the repechage, the U.S. crossed third (6:27.79), missing a spot in the final by 5.52 seconds.
For the men's eight and men's and women's quads, Sunday's races served as a "race for lanes" to determine placement in the finals next week. The U.S. won the eight (6:02.21) and finished fifth (6:31.46) and third (7:02.71) in the quads, respectively.
More than 6,000 athletes from 42 countries are competing 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.
Rowing Competition Program
October 17, 2011 9-10:40 a.m., A Finals, B Finals, Medal Ceremonies (W2-, W2x, M2x, M4-)
October 18, 2011 9:00-11:05 a.m., A Finals, B Finals, Medal Ceremonies (LM2x, W1x, LW2x, M2-. M4x)
October 19, 2011 9:30-11:25 a.m., A Finals, B Finals, Medal Ceremonies (LM4-, LW1x, W4x, M1x, M8+)
For a full U.S. roster, athlete bios and features, visit USRowing's Pan American Games Coverage page.