This morning, all who came to the finish line were treated to a new sight: a view of the starting area. Today was the clearest day yet for those who have been training here for two weeks. I saw one coach stop suddenly on the bike path, 3 races into her day, remove her sunglasses and announce "There are mountains over there! Wow!" The clear skies are certainly encouraging to see at a course where pollution is the only major issue thus far (more on venue 2008 readiness tomorrow).
It was a tough day of racing for the US small boats: the JW4-, JM4+ are both headed to the B Final on Saturday while the JM1x, JW2x and JM4x are going to the C/D semi tomorrow. The JM4- fell off the pace in the second 500 of their rep and took 4th for a spot in the C Final.
The JW1x made it through to the A/B semis. US sculler, Suzanne Maddamma patiently moved from 5th to 2nd over the middle 1000 to finish 2nd to stay alive for tomorrow. The JW2- became the second US crew to make it to the A finals on Saturday. Japhet and Linnenkohl sat behind Bulgaria and traded second with Russia during the first 750. Taking a strong press at 950, the pair gained a 2 second margin on the Russians and held them to the finish, claiming the last spot in Saturday's final.
The JM8+ had the US race of the day in a barnburner for the top 4 spots in their 6 boat rep. The Chinese were open water up at 500 and would slowly extend over the course, making it a race for the three remaining spots. After what one national team coach called it "the worst start I've seen a Colin Campbell boat have" the US 8+ was in a close 5th with Italy, Romania, and Great Britain at 500. (That's a pretty rough call, miss a little water on a stroke or two, and you're the worst ever?) In lane 2, Russia couldn't get in the race after Italy blew past them on the outside in an attempt to improve on yesterday's start over the US. Through the second 500 the US gained 4 seats on Italy, passing the English but bringing them along in the second half. The US continued to charge up to a 1/2 length down but Italy responded in the 3rd 500, extending back out to a 2/3 length lead, the US getting a deck over the Romanians through this push. The Romanians kept that deck deficit in the last 500 finishing a half length over Great Britain. The Italians were reeled in by the US in the last 10 meters, the US claiming 2nd. Check out the finish line photo sequence starting here.
Translation issues continued today at credential checkpoints staffed by Shunyi English students. Contractions and negatives seem to be a barrier in the curriculum right now; combine that with eager reporters and you get a Who's on First? routine:
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