U.S. Women Suffer Setback in Eights

U.S. hopes for a gold medal in women’s rowing almost sank when the favored crew in eights lost its qualifying race by a full length to Belarus at Gainesville, Ga.

The loss for the crew meant the Americans will have to row Wednesday in the second-chance race.

In other preliminary races at Lake Lanier, the U.S. men’s eight advanced to Friday’s semifinal against the world champion Dutch.

Lightweight rowing had its debut with the tightest race yet, as the Netherlands edged Americans Tom Auth and Steve Peterson in a photo finish in men’s double sculls.

Lindsey Burns and Teresa Z. Bell of the United States easily won their heat in the lightweight women’s double sculls to reach Friday’s semifinal. But three-time world champions Colleen Miller and Wendy Wiebe must race Wednesday after coming in third.

The U.S. men’s quad team, which includes David Collins of Thousands Oaks, also moved to Friday’s semifinal by finishing second to the Italy.