In the first day of rowing at the Pan American Games regatta on Rincón Lake in the Dominican Republic, Canada advanced in three events.
The women's double of Stacey Norwood of St. John, N.B. and Marilyn Taylor of Calgary, Alta. won this morning's heat in 7:28.91 to advance directly to the finals. The U.S. (Humblet, Madigan) was second in 7:33.49, followed by Chile (Orellana, Jadue) in 7:40.25, and Brazil (Beloni, Beltrame) in 7:48.04.
The men's pair of Iain Brambell of Brentwood Bay, B.C. and Chris Davidson of Oakville, Ont. also advance. Typically lightweights, Brambell and Davidson are rowing in this heavyweight event for the Pan Ams. They advanced after coming second in the repechage race this afternoon in 6:54.71 - Cuba was first in 6:48.45 and the U.S. was third in 7:09.39.
In the lightweight women's single, Gen Meredith of St. Anne-de-Bellevue, Que. was second in her heat, but advanced to the final, which will be held on Friday, after her repechage race this afternoon. Fiona Milne of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., also a lightweight single sculler, will row in the heavyweight women's singles event, which will be held on Friday.
Canada has 13 rowers at the Pan Am Games. Heats and repechages will be held August 4 to 6, with finals from August 8 to 10.