ROWING Two American teams advance to semifinals

SCHINIAS, Greece -- Aquil Abdullah has already made history as the first black to row for the U.S. Olympic team. Now he's just two races away from becoming the first to win a medal.
The former college football recruit and his double scull partner Henry Nuzum finished a solid third in a five-team field Saturday to become one of two U.S. boats to advance to the semifinals in their respective events.
The other American boat to move straight to the semifinal round was the men's pair of Luke Walton and Russian-born Artour Samsonov. They advanced by beating the Czechs for third place in a four-boat heat, although they finished 14 seconds behind heat winner South Africa.
Three other U.S. boats will have to race in repechages, or second-chance races, which now are scheduled for Monday unless expected stormy weather changes that. The other seven American boats are set to race their opening heats today.
American single sculler Jennifer Devine struggled Saturday to keep pace with two-time defending gold medalist Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus, who surged ahead early to win her heat race by 10 seconds.
Karsten's victory put her in Wednesday's semifinals. Also advancing easily were Karsten's longtime rival and Sydney bronze medalist, Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski of Germany, and two-time defending world champion Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria.
The U.S. women's pair of Sarah Jones and Kate MacKenzie will have a repechage Monday after finishing last in tough five-boat heat that included medal favorites Belarus and Britain, who finished first and second.
Romania won the other, followed by Canada. New Zealand's boat suddenly stopped in the middle of the second heat race. They were able to restart and struggle to the finish, where they were welcomed with a standing ovation.
In the men's four, Britain's Matthew Pinsent remained on track for his fourth gold medal. His boat won its heat, 10 seconds ahead of the Americans, who finished fourth and will have to race in a repechage.
Associated Press
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