Cris Nievarez settles for 5th in rowing quarterfinals

Cris Nievarez misses out on a chance to move closer to a Tokyo Olympic medal.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Cris Nievarez came way short of a spot in the Tokyo Olympics men's single sculls rowing semifinals after placing fifth in his quarterfinal heat on Sunday at the Sea Forest Waterway in the Japanese capital.

Nievarez clocked in at seven minutes and 50.74 seconds in Heat 4, barely 34 seconds behind Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania, who got the last semifinal spot for Heat 4 after finishing third in the race.

Oliver Zeidler of Germany won the heat at the time of 7:12.75, while Brazil's Lucas Verthein placed second at 7:14.26.

Zeidler gradually zoomed ahead of the pack as the race went on en route to the smooth sailing.

Griskonis, however, had a chance at moving higher in the rankings after overtaking Verthein for second with 500 meters left in the two-kilometer course before the latter got his bearing back to secure the second spot.

New Zealand's Jordan Parry was actually toe-to-toe with Griskonis and even Verthein for the last semifinal spot, but Parry slowed down halfway through the race and eventually fell short despite the strong finish.

Nievarez, Parry, and Iraq's Mohammed Al-Khafaji will still play in a repechage round on Tuesday as they look to end their Olympic stints on a high note.

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