Summary of Olympic A/B semifinals and races involving U.S. crews on Wednesday, August 13, 2008. All times are Beijing local time.
Women's Single Sculls Semifinal A/B 1 - 15:30
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - Australia (SAVAGE) Lane 2 - China (ZHANG) Lane 3 - Czech Republic (KNAPKOVA) Lane 4 - United States (GUERETTE) Lane 5 - Sweden (SVENSSON) Lane 6 - Italy (BASCELLI)
-Guerette drew the deeper of the two semifinals with China and Czech the favorites. USA and Sweden have shown similar speed thus far in the regatta with Australia and Italy not far behind. The race for the final qualification spot should be very closely contested.
Women's Single Sculls Semifinal A/B 2 - 15:40
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - New Zealand (TWIGG) Lane 2 - Poland (MICHALSKA) Lane 3 - Bulgaria (NEYKOVA) Lane 4 - Belarus (KARSTEN) Lane 5 - France (BALMARY) Lane 6 - Serbia (OBRADOVIC)
-Belarus and Bulgaria are the class of the second final and should make it through. The last spot is up for grabs between Poland and New Zealand. France or Serbia could possibly challenge, but are long shots based the heats and quarterfinal results.
Men's Single Sculls Semifinal A/B 1 - 15:50
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - Switzerland (VONARBURG) Lane 2 - Belgium (MAEYENS) Lane 3 - Germany (HACKER) Lane 4 - Norway (TUFTE) Lane 5 - Sweden (KARONEN) Lane 6 - Australia (HARDCASTLE)
-This semifinal should be a four boat race for the three qualifying spots between Belgium, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Hacker rowed the quarterfinal with the fastest time in the field but has been somewhat inconsistent through the last couple years. Switzerland and Australia don't look to have the speed to compete for the A final.
Men's Single Sculls Semifinal A/B 2 - 16:00
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - Greece (CHRISTOU) Lane 2 - Lithuania (GRISKONIS) Lane 3 - New Zealand (DRYSDALE) Lane 4 - Czech Republic (SYNEK) Lane 5 - Great Britain (CAMPBELL) Lane 6 - United States (JURKOWSKI)
-New Zealand and Czech are the favorites in the second semifinal, but Lithuania, Great Britain, and the United states have all shown the speed to compete for the third qualifying spot. Jurkowski will need the race of his life to qualify but it is certainly not out of his reach.
Men's Pair Semifinal A/B 1 - 16:10
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - Croatia (SKELIN/SKELIN) Lane 2 - Czech Republic (MAKOVICKA/CHALUPA) Lane 3 - France (PERON/CADOT) Lane 4 - New Zealand (TWADDLE/BRIDGEWATER) Lane 5 - South Africa (KEELING/di CLEMENTE) Lane 6 - Canada (CALDER/FRANDSEN)
-New Zealand looks to be the favorite in the first men's pair semifinal with both France and South Africa showing good speed in the heats. The big question mark in this race is Canada. They showed good speed earlier in the summer but were somewhat off the pace during their first race in China. Croatia and Czech have outside shots to qualify, but they will need to race it well.
Men's Pair Semifinal A/B 2 - 16:20
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - United States (WINKLEVOSS/WINKLEVOSS) Lane 2 - Italy (de VITA/LEONARDO) Lane 3 - Australia (GINN/FREE) Lane 4 - Serbia (JAGAR/STOJIC) Lane 5 - Germany (LEHMANN/DRAHOTTA) Lane 6 - Denmark (NIELSEN/LARSEN)
-The Aussie pair is the only that looks to be a lock to advance to the final from this semi. Serbia, Germany, Italy are the like contenders for the final two qualifying spots. The Winklevoss twins have their work cut out for them if they want to win a spot in the A final.
Men's Double Sculls Semifinal A/B 1 - 16:30
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - Belgium (POELVOORDE/RAES) Lane 2 - Germany (WENZEL/BRODOWSKI) Lane 3 - Australia (CRAWSHAY/BRENNAN) Lane 4 - New Zealand (WADDELL/COHEN) Lane 5 - Croatia (KURUSIN/VEKIC) Lane 6 - Slovenia (SPIK/COP)
-The Kiwis and the Aussies should go one/two in the first semifinal. The last third position should come to Germany, Croatia, and Slovenia.
Men's Double Sculls Semifinal A/B 2 - 16:40
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - Bulgaria (YANAKIEV/YANAKIEV) Lane 2 - Estonia (ENDREKSON/JAANSON) Lane 3 - France (MACQUET/HARDY) Lane 4 - Great Britain (WELLS/ROWBOTHAM) Lane 5 - Belarus (MIHAL/SHCHARBACHENIA) Lane 6 - Russian Federation (KORNILOV/SVIRIN)
-Of the crews in the second semifinal, the French had the fastest qualifying time in the heats and should go through to the final. The last two spots should be a good race between Great Britain, Estonia, and Belarus.
Men's Four Semifinal A/B 1 - 16:50
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - United States Lane 2 - New Zealand Lane 3 - Australia Lane 4 - Great Britain Lane 5 - Ireland Lane 6 - France
-The men's four race is the most competitive race at the Olympics and thus the hardest race to handicap. Any of the crews in either semifinal could make or win the final on any given day. Based on the previous races throughout the year, the favorites to qualify out of the first semifinal are Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, or the United States. Semifinal 1 is probably the faster of the two.
Men's Four Semifinal A/B 2 - 17:00
1-3 -> FA, 4.. -> FB
Lane 1 - Belarus Lane 2 - Slovenia Lane 3 - Germany Lane 4 - Netherlands Lane 5 - Italy Lane 6 - Czech Republic
-Semifinal 2 favorites are the Netherlands and Germany. The last qualifying spot should be Italy, Slovenia, or Czech Republic.
Men's Double Sculls Final C - 17:30
For places 13-14
Lane 1 - Iraq (NOZAD/JEBUR) Lane 2 - United States (PIERMARINI/HOVEY)
-Interesting matchup here. The United States should win based off the repechage results, but wouldn't it make an interesting story if Iraq were to win?
08/12/2008 9:20:31 PM
08/12/2008 10:44:39 PM