Strong Performances Highlight A Thrilling First Day in Rio
- mcmoore27
- Aug 6, 2016
- 3 min read
After a memorable Opening Ceremonies, the Rio 2016 Olympics are officially underway! 13 Ivies began their hunt for Olympic Gold on the world stage with several strong performances.
Rowing
Gevvie Stone, a 2007 Princeton graduate, won her heat in 8:29.67 to advance to the Tuesday’s quarterfinals. It was the first opportunity for most of the viewing audience to see the challenges of a choppy race course, especially through the middle 1,000 meters, but Stone handled it exceptionally well. She built a huge lead early, then dealt with the conditions and two hard-charging opponents in the middle, but she pulled away late for the victory.
Shelley Pearson opened Bermuda's contribution to the 2016 Olympic Games with a third-place finish in the women's single sculls. The Harvard graduate battled through the choppy waters in the final heat to complete the 2,000-meter race in 8:22.15. Pearson’s time was the sixth fastest of the 32 scullers in the competition and might have won all but two of the six heats.
The lightweight men’s four featured three Ivies. Dartmouth’s Anthony Fahden and Princeton’s Tyler Nase and Robin Prendes took advantage of the almost clean conditions of the first 500 meters on the course and built enough of a lead over The Netherlands and Canada to finish second in 6:05.61 and advance to the semifinal on Tuesday.
Brendan Hodge, a Harvard graduate and a member of Canada's lightweight men's four, placed fourth in their heat and missed a chance to book a spot in the semifinals.
The U.S. men’s pair of Anders Weiss, a 2008 Brown grad, and his partner Nareg Guregian were in qualifying position until the last 500 meters when they suffered a few missed strokes and fell into fourth, finishing in 6:49.97. Australia won in 6:40.79. South Africa was second in 6:41.42, and the Czech Republic advanced in a 6:42.71.
Last to row was Dartmouth’s Tracy Eisser in the women’s quadruple sculls. They launched their boat with an extra splashguard and plastic wrap down both sides, but did not advance. Only one of the three crews in the race – Germany – advanced directly into the final in 6:30.86. Poland was second in 6:33.43. The U.S. was third in 6:40.73.
Fencing
Princeton Rising senior Katharine Holmes, ranked 25th in the world, battled 19th-ranked Erika Kirpu of Estonia to overtime in her épée Round of 32 match before Kirpu advanced, 5-4. It was a thrilling match, as Holmes overcame three different one-touch deficits to force overtime. With both fencers in close for the winning touch, it was Kirpu who was able to get it and advance. It was Holmes' first appearance in the Olympics, and she'll be back Thursday to compete for the U.S. in the team competition.
Women’s Soccer
Princeton’s Diana Matheson '08 started and played the first 63 minutes for Canada in a 3-1 win over Zimbabwe that saw the Canadians get all three of their goals by the 35th minute and Zimbabwe add one in the 86th. Matheson drew a penalty kick when Zimbabwe goalkeeper Chido Dzingirai collided with her in the 18-yard box, setting up Christine Sinclair to knock in the PK.
The win sets up Canada in strong position to advance to the quarterfinals of the knockout round, which will begin Friday. Before then, Canada, ranked 10th in the world in the most recent FIFA ranking, will take on second-ranked Germany in the final group-stage game Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
Field Hockey
The Princeton trio of Katie Reinprecht '13, Julia Reinprecht '14 and Kathleen Sharkey '13, as well as Team USA staff member Nate Franks '07, made their Rio debut against Argentina, which has medaled at four straight Olympics. The South American power presented a strong early case about a potential fifth, dominating most of the first quarter in what would be a scoreless half. In fact, it would stay scoreless until Katie Reinprecht, the Honda Award winner for field hockey during Princeton's 2012 NCAA championship season, scored from a crazy angle in the third quarter. The shot went off the Argentine goaltender's blocker and into the cage. The lead would go to 2-0 in the fourth on a successful penalty corner — which included a leaping Sharkey clearing the way for the deflected goal — and hold for a 2-1 thriller.
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