NAC duo reaches semifinals

BATAVIA, Ohio ? Will Prioleau and Evan Fullerton of the Newport Aquatic Center advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Rowing National Youth Championships in the men’s doubles division Friday.

The pair needed to finish at least second in its heat of six boats to avoid possibly rowing twice on Saturday on Lake Harsha, just outside of Cincinnati. Prioleau and Fullerton did just that with a time of 7 minutes, 10.66 seconds, good enough for second place.

A team representing Malvern High of Philadelphia won the heat in a time of 7:07.37.

Coach Larry Moore said his NAC team was focused on qualifying, not winning Friday’s heat.

“You have to race three to four times in three days,” said Moore, who also coaches crew at Orange Coast College. “You have to conserve energy.”

Prioleau and Fullerton will row in the semifinals today at 2:40 p.m. The top three finishers in each of the two semifnal heats advance to the final, scheduled Sunday at 10 a.m.

The NAC girls’ lightweight eight boat finished third in its four-team qualifying heat, completing the 2,000-meter course in 7:11.56.

The team, consisting of Jennifer Wukawitz, Amanada Ghourdjian, Christina Campbell, Christina King, Paige Distanislao, Nicole Marquand, Krystal Anaya, Ailbhe Maguire and coxswain Jennifer Entin, will now have to compete in today’s second-chance heat. Three teams will advance from the second-chance heat to the semifinals, also contested today.

The women’s lightweight eight is coached by Christy Shaver.