By REY C. LACHICA
PARIS – Up against rivals noticeably taller by several inches, Filipina rower Joanie Delgaco struggled and finished fourth in the second heat of the women’s single sculls at the National Olympic Nautical Stadium of Île-de-France in Vaires-sur-Marne on Saturday, July 27, here.
The 5-foot-5 Degaco mustered only a time of 7 minutes and 56.26 seconds in completing the 2,000-meter voyage in the six-player 2nd heat of the competition and was relegated to repechage on Sunday, July 29.
Expectedly, 2022 World Cup winner Karolien Florijn of the Netherlands topped the heat in 7:36.90 followed by Swiss Aurelia-Maxima Janzen (7:41.15) and Nina Konstanjsek of Slovenia (7;46.30)
Delgaco was off to a good start, holding on to the third spot through the first 1000m. She was even just 9.70 seconds behind Florijin and Janzen before finally losing steam and allowing Konstanjsek to catch up.
The former volleyball setter of Iriga City in the Palarong Pambansa must come up with something special in the repechage for a better position in the next phase on the way to the quarterfinals.
Only the top three finishers in each heat will advance to the quarterfinals.
In the Tokyo Games, Cris Nievarez managed to reach the quarters but subsequently finished 23rdoverall in the 31-man field.
