LUCERNE, Switzerland – Five United States’ crews advanced to Sunday’s finals on the second day of competition at the Zurich Rowing World Cup event in Lucerne, Switzerland. In addition, two crews earned berths on the U.S. world championships’ team pending acceptance by the crews.
The U.S. men’s eight of coxswain Nick Anderson, Jon Watling, Bryan Volpenhein, Eric Mueller, Mike Wherley, Wolf Moser, Joey Hansen, Garrett Klugh, and Ryan Torgerson rowed through Canada in the final 500 meters of its semifinal to advance to Sunday’s final. Racing in the day’s second semi, Canada grabbed the early lead and held less than a one-second advantage on the U.S. boat heading into the final 500 meters. However, the veteran U.S. crew clocked a strong final 500 meters to pass the Canadians, finishing in a time of 5:34.51. Canada stroked a 5:37.03 to finish second, while Russia claimed third place and a spot in the final with a time of 5:39.6. Germany won the other semifinal in a time of 5:35.41. Romania (5:36.57) and Croatia (5:37.83) claimed the remaining spots in the final.
Six-time national team member Steve Tucker won the second of two semifinals in the men’s lightweight single sculls to advance to Sunday’s final. Tucker grabbed the lead during the third quarter of the race and clocked a 7:07.89 to finish 0.66 seconds ahead of second-place Daisaku Takeda of Japan. Germany’s Ingo Sascha Euler finished third and also advanced to the final. In the first semifinal, Ireland’s Sam Lynch clocked a 7:09.68 to defeat Hungary’s Tamas Varga by just over a second. France’s Frederic Dufour claimed the last spot in the final.
Princeton Training Center’s Laurel Korholz and Kelly Salchow finished second in the second repechage of the women’s double sculls, earning a place in Sunday’s final. The duo clocked a 7:11.46 to finish 2.1 seconds behind Germany. In the first repechage, Hungary clocked a 7:11.54 to edge Belarus by 0.96 seconds. The four crews will join heat winners Lithuania and Great Britain in the final. By making the final and by virtue of the 2002 National Team Selection Procedures, Korholz and Salchow have earned the right to represent the U.S. in the women’s double sculls at the 2002 FISA World Rowing Championships September 15-22 in Seville, Spain. The duo can accept or decline this bid. If they choose not to accept, selection trials for the women’s double sculls will be held in August in Princeton, N.J., to determine the U.S. entry for the world championships.
In the women’s pair, Princeton Training Center’s Portia Johnson and Megan Dirkmaat finished third in the first semifinal and advanced to Sunday’s final. Johnson and Dirkmaat clocked a 7:29.29 to finish 4.21 seconds behind Belarus, the second-place finishers. Romania won the heat in a 7:20.97. In the second semifinal, Germany, South Africa and Australia advanced to the final. Germany clocked a 7:24.38 to win the race. Like the women’s double sculls, Dirkmaat and Johnson have earned the right to represent the U.S. in the event at the world championships. If they choose not to accept the bid, selection trials for the women’s pair also will be held in August in Princeton, N.J.
The women’s quadruple sculls quartet of Sarah Jones, Carol Skricki, Hilary Gehman, and Laura Rauchfuss finished second in its repechage, advancing to Sunday’s final. The quad clocked a 6:36.58 to finish 1.86 seconds behind Russia. In the other repechage, Great Britain and Denmark finished first and second, respectively. Great Britain finished in a time of 6:34.16, with Denmark coming home in a 6:35.68. The four crews join heat winners Germany and the Ukraine in tomorrow’s final.
Pocock Elite’s Conal Groom and Rollins Alumni Association’s Stephan Arthur-Wong just missed advancing to Sunday’s final after finishing fourth in their semifinal. Racing in the first of two semis, the duo clocked a 6:40.58 to finish 4.69 seconds behind the Czech Republic for the third and last qualifying spot for the final. The U.S. crew now will race in Sunday’s “B” final for places 7-12.
In the women’s lightweight double sculls, both U.S. entries failed to advance to the finals. The USA 1 tandem of Princeton Training Center’s Mary Obidinski and Pocock Elite’s Stacey Borgman finished fourth in the first repechage, missing a place in the final by one spot. Obidinski and Borgman clocked a 7:20.32, finishing 6.27 seconds behind third-place Denmark. In the second repechage, the Pocock Elite/New York Athletic Club duo of Abigail Cromwell and Lisa Schlenker finished in fifth place, clocking a 7:25.20. The two crews will race in Sunday’s “B” final for places 7-12.
In the women’s single sculls, Kristin Goodrich finished fifth in her semifinal. Goodrich clocked a 7:55.87 to finish two seconds behind fourth-place Romania. Goodrich did not race in the afternoon “C” final.
In the “C” final of the men’s double sculls, Dana Schmunk and Daniel Beery led a tight, three-boat battle for more than 1,500 meters before being nipped by Belgium and Norway in the final few strokes. Norway crossed the line in a time of 6:38.68, with Belgium stroking a 6:38.96 and the U.S. finishing in a 6:38.98. Schmunk and Berry finished in 15th place overall.
Racing concludes on Sunday with finals.
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