RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Sequim’s Elise Beuke has advanced to the rowing semifinals at the World Junior Championships.
Beuke, who will row at the University of Washington this fall, and Isabella Strickler of Detroit began competition for the United States in the women’s double sculls by placing fourth in their preliminary heat.
Beuke, 18, and Strickler, 17, finished their heat in 7 minutes, 31.31 seconds, behind Germany (7:15.65), Great Britain (7:17.72) and Norway (7:30.83).
That finish was high enough to advance Beuke and Strickler to the repechage round, where they had to finish in the top three of their heat to move on to today’s semifinals.
Their repechage heat ended up being a two-crew race.
The U.S. duo pulled out to a fast start, leading after the first 500 meters and the first 1,000 meters.
Australia’s team of Bridget Badenoch and Georgia Wheeler overtook Beuke and Strickler in the third 500 and held them off to place first with a time of 7:36.95.
Beuke and Strickler came in second with a time of 7:41.40.
Brazil was a distant third, finishing in 7:54.90.
Beuke and Strickler will compete this morning in the semifinals at 6:08 a.m.
They will be rowing against Norway, Russia, Germany, Hungary and Italy for finals positioning.
The top three finishers in each of the two semifinal heats advance to the A final, which determines places 1-6, Saturday at 7:15 a.m.
The B final, for places 7-12, is Saturday at 5:05 a.m.
There also is a C final for places 13-19 today at 7:46 a.m.
The semifinals and finals can be followed online at www.tinyurl.com/pdnTrackRowers.
