By Natalie Dillon

ndillon@

themonroetimes.com

BELLEVILLE — Belleville graduate Lauren O’Connor competed in two women’s quadruple sculls events July 27 and 29 to qualify for the Finals B on Wednesday, July 31.

In heats, the first two teams automatically qualified for Finals A. In Heat 1, that was Netherlands (6:17.12) and Ukraine (6:20.09). In Heat 2, the top two were Great Britain (6:13.35) and Germany (6:15.28). The U.S. team, which includes O’Connor, finished fourth in Heat 2 (6:27.35).

The team had another chance to qualify for Finals A in a repechage. There, the U.S. finished fifth (6:34.04). Switzerland (6:26.82) and China (6:28.72) were the top two finishers, qualifying for Finals A.

“The overall result is obviously not what we wanted,” O’Connor said. “We’ve still got one more race and want to put everything we have into that, so we just keep looking forward.”

Finals A and B are scheduled to take place at 5:14 a.m. O’Connor and the U.S. will row in Finals B with Romania and Australia. 

Borland’s in Belleville will be open at 4:30 a.m. for those that wish to watch. All Olympic events can be streamed on Peacock TV.