PRINCETON, N.J. - Four crews inched one step closer to representing the United States at the world rowing championships on the third day of competition at the 2003 World Championships Trials for Olympic-class Boats. The first final of the women's double sculls was delayed until Monday due to the misadventure rule being called during the initial race.
In the first final of the men's single sculls, Ann Arbor Rowing Club's Mike Perry clocked a 7:14.7 to defeat Vesper Boat Club's Paul Falcigno by 1.2 seconds. Augusta Rowing Club's Jon Werner finished third, followed by Vesper's Jon Burns. Perry, Falcigno and Werner advanced to Monday's second final.
Potomac Rowing Club's Steve Gillespie and Brett Wilkinson easily won the first final of the men's double sculls. The Potomac duo clocked a 6:34.2 to finish five seconds ahead of the Princeton Training Center/Pocock double of J. Sloan DuRoss and Conal Groom. Princeton Training Center's Henry Nuzum and Grant Nichols finished third in a 6:40.9, followed by Riverside's Dave Gabel and Kent Smack. The top three finishers advanced to tomorrow's second final.
In the men's pair, the Harvard Boat Club duo of Artour Samsonov and Luke Walton finished in a time of 6:54.5, 4.2 seconds ahead of the Princeton Training Center crew of Adam Holland and Dave Friedericks. Princeton Training Center's Mark Flickinger and Matt Rich finished third, followed by Riverside Boat Club's Sam Brooks and Nick Tripician. The top three crews will race in Monday's second final.
Saugatuck's Kristin Goodrich won the first final of the women's single sculls. Goodrich stroked an 8:26.3 to finish 7.6 seconds ahead of Augusta's Cindy Bishop. Saugatuck's Sharon Kriz finished third, while Riverside's Ann Holmes finished fourth. Goodrich will race Bishop and Kriz in tomorrow's second final.
In the women's double sculls, the misadventure rule was enforced after one of the crews experienced trouble at the 1,200-meter mark. The misadventure rule is a trials' rule that allows for a race to be stopped if a boat in contention to advance experiences a problem. The first final will be re-rowed on Monday at 8 a.m.
The best two-out-of-three finals format continues Monday at 8 a.m., with the second finals in four of the five events, while the third finals, if necessary, will be held Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m. The women's double sculls second final will take place on Tuesday and the third final will take place on Wednesday, if necessary.