The Canadian women's pair of Jacqui Cook and Karen Clark have advanced to the medal round in this event, after helping the women's eight move forward yesterday, at the 2002 FISA World Rowing Championships in Seville, Spain.
"They've broken into that special class of athletes who are in two finals at the same Championships," said Canadian women's coach, Al Morrow. The women's four is also doing double duty at this Worlds, but advanced directly to the final after Sunday's race. "I was quietly concerned that Jacqui and Karen had five races in a row and I'm relieved they got through in the pair today."
The Canadian pair was second in 7:34.13 to Belarus (7:31.16), with Australia (7:39.62) in third capturing the final berth to the medal round as a result of this semi-final race.
"We really stayed within ourselves - we didn't get flustered by what any other crew near us was doing," said Cook, who is from Burlington, Ont. She and Clark were bronze medallists at the 2001 Worlds in this event. Canada’s has a long tradition of doing well in the women’s pair, and Emma Robinson and Theresa Luke still hold the world’s best time in this event (6:56.27), established in Lucerne in 1999.
The pair has not been daunted by the pressure of the World Championships. "We are used to rowing everyday in training, and we were relaxed and calm in today's race," said Delta, B.C. native Karen Clark, "and we're really getting to know this course!"
In the lightweight women's single, Gen Meredith of Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que. took any early lead, but lost speed in the final 1000 metres to finish fifth in her semi and will not advance to the A finals. Meredith's time was 7:59.16.
The men's pair of Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. and Cam Baerg of Saskatoon, Sask. also failed to advance after missing a berth in the finals - finishing fourth in today's semi-final in a time of 6:58.02. The top three crews - Great Britain's rowing stars, James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent, along with crews from Croatia and the Czech Republic - advanced to the A finals from this semi-final.
The weather cleared this morning bringing steady sunshine for the first time during this World Championships on the Guadalquivir river in Seville. Racing continues until Sunday.
Canadian Results (in order of racing) - Sept. 19/02 FISA World Rowing Championships - Seville, Spain
Lightweight women's single 1. USA 07:53.81 2. CRO 07:55.87 3. NED 07:56.76 4. GRE 07:58.80 5. CAN 07:59.16 6. SUI 08:10.18
Women's pair 1. BLR 07:31.16 2. CAN 07:34.13 3. AUS 07:39.62 4. USA 07:40.28 5. GER 07:41.56 6. FRA 07:47.69
Men's pair 1. GBR 06:47.17 2. CRO 06:50.51 3. CZE 06:52.96 4. CAN 06:58.02 5. ITA 07:09.98 6. BRA 07:28.98
Full results can be found at www.worldrowing.com Canadian updates at http://www.rowingcanada.org/en/news/index.html
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Jackie Skender - Rowing Canada Aviron
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