Up Next - The Women’s Eight and Lightweight Women’s Double

July 28, 2012

After a day where eight U.S crews saw action, only three crews go to the line tomorrow in the 2012 Olympic Games.

 Two crews, the women’s eight and the lightweight women’s double sculls, get their first shot at the course at Eton Dorney, while the lightweight men’s four takes another run at advancing to the semifinal.

Among the most important events for the United States is the women’s eight. The crew of Mary Whipple (Orangevale, Calif.), Caryn Davies (Ithaca, N.Y.), Caroline Lind (Greensboro, N.C.), Eleanor Logan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine), Meghan Musnicki (Naples, N.Y.), Taylor Ritzel (Larkspur, Colo.), Esther Lofgren (Newport Beach, Calif.), Susan Francia (Abington, Pa.) and Erin Cafaro (Modesto, Calif.) will row at 11:50 a.m. and race Germany, Great Britain, and Australia. One boat advances straight to the final.

Coming into the regatta as the defending Olympic and world champions on a string of six successive wins, the U.S. is the team to beat. No crew is be discounted, however, especially Romania and Canada. Canada has been chasing the U.S. for the last two seasons and Romania is always strong.

Rowing at 10:50 will be the lightweight women’s double sculls crew of Julie Nichols (Livermore, Calif.) and Kristin Hedstrom (Concord, Mass.). The pair comes into the Olympics after two strong seasons together, finishing fourth at last year’s World Rowing Championships and taking the Overall World Rowing Cup.

They will be racing The Netherlands, Greece, Australia, Brazil, and Canada. The first two boats will advance to the semifinal.

Christina Giazitzidou and Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece are the reigning world champions and 2009 world champions. Canada was second at last year’s World Rowing Championship.

The lightweight men’s four crew of Robin Prendes (Miami, Fla.), Nick LaCava (Weston, Conn.), William Newell (Weston, Mass.) and Anthony Fahden (Lafayette, Calif.) will be the first to the line rowing at 9:40 a.m. in a second chance race for a shot at the semifinals.

After not advancing from their opening heat today they will they will face Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic with the top three crews advancing to the semifinals.

For 2012 Olympic Games news, features and daily quotes from Team USA athletes, coaches, staff and family members, visit http://www.usrowing.org/Pressbox/2012Olympics.aspx.



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USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing’s official suppliers include Boathouse Sports, Vespoli, WinTech, Filippi, Croker Oars, Rudy Project, Concept2, Nielsen Kellerman, PowerHTV and Ludus Tours. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation and its corporate sponsors and partners ANXeBusiness Corp, Voxer, EZ Dock, EMCVenues and The Perfect SNAQUE. For more information, visit www.usrowing.org. USRowing has created The Row to London to engage sponsors leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, with proceeds going to help ensure the U.S. team’s success. Opportunities also exist to partner with America Rows – supporting diversity initiatives and adaptive programs. For more information, please contact Beth Kohl at beth@usrowing.org.

Ed Moran

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