Three Crews Advance on Sunday at 2023 Pan American Games

Three U.S. crews advanced to finals, highlighting Sunday's racing at the 2023 Pan American Games in San Pedro de la Paz.

In the lightweight men's double sculls, Sean Richardson (Beverly, Mass./University of Massachusetts/Riverside Boat Club) and Alex Twist (Boston, Mass./ University of Puget Sound/Riverside Boat Club) finished second in their heat to advance to Tuesday's final. Richardson and Twist, who won the B final in the event at the 2023 Pan American Games Qualification Regatta, reached the finish line in a 6:37.0, just three seconds behind Canada. Uruguay took third in a 6:50.41.

"For the past month, we've really been focusing on nailing the first 30 strokes of the race and making a strong push to the first 500-meter mark," Richardson said. "I thought we did a really nice job coming out aggressive with Canada, and it set us up well for the rest of the piece."

In the lightweight women's double sculls, Elizabeth Martin (Lexington, Mass./ Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Riverside Boat Club) and Mary Wilson (Dover, Del./Duke University/Vesper Boat Club/Penn AC) also finished second in their heat, advancing to Tuesday's final. Wilson and Martin, who won bronze in the event at the 2023 Pan American Games Qualification Regatta, finished in a 7:17.32. Chile took first with a 7:15.42, and Paraguay third in a 7:21.34.

"It was a great first run down the course here in Chile," Martin said. "We are happy to directly advance to the final on Tuesday and are looking forward to more fierce racing."

The U.S. mixed eight won their repechage, securing a spot in Wednesday's finals. The U.S. crew of Colette Lucas-Conwell (Paris, France/University of Virginia/California Rowing Club/New York Athletic Club), Isa Darvin (Madison, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Penn AC), Ezra Carlson (Eureka, Calif./University of Washington/ Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Alexander Hedge (Morristown, N.J./Columbia University/ Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Jacob Plihal (Vashon Island, Wash./Northeastern University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Mark Couwenhoven (Parkton, Md./University of Maryland-Baltimore County/Penn AC),Lauren Miller (Saint Cloud, Minn./University of Minnesota/ARION), Hannah Paynter (Lyme, Conn./Princeton University/ARION), and Cristina Pretto (Prospect, Conn./Trinity College/Penn AC) clocked a 5:54.79, six seconds ahead of Canada. Argentina took third in a 6:06.08.

Five U.S. crews will race for medals on Monday. Finals are scheduled in both the men's and women's pairs, as well as the men's quadruple sculls, women's quadruple sculls, and men's eight. Both U.S. pairs won their heats on Saturday, while both quads and the men's eight are racing for the first time in final-only events. Racing begins at 8 a.m. local time.

The Pan American and Parapan American Games is the largest multi-sport event in the Americas, where the best athletes from all over the continent compete. It is held every four years, with Chile hosting for the first time in its history in 2023.

Click here for schedules, start lists, results, and event updates, and here for the official USRowing coverage page. Live streaming for the five-day regatta will be available via the PanAm Sports Channel.