Rowing: Waddell qualifies for semis

11.50pm

New Zealand single sculler Sonia Waddell qualified easily for the Olympic rowing semifinals in Athens today as winds at last began to fade from the Schinias course.

Waddell won her repechage in seven minutes 27.80 seconds. The time was more than 8sec faster than her performance in the heats on Saturday, aided by a moderate tailwind. She was 12.58sec clear of the second-placed sculler in her repechage, Spain's Nuria Dominguez Asensio.

After strong winds continued this morning, they faded in the afternoon to a comfortable 3-4 metres per second. Forecasts today showed conditions weren't expected to get a lot worse over the remaining five days of the regatta.

It has been an awkward period for Waddell, who rowed her heat 3-1/2 days ago but had today's event postponed twice. She now faces less than 24 hours before her semifinal.

She was the only New Zealander in action today but will be among four crews to compete tomorrow.

Already in the semifinals are top qualifying men's pair Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater; and men's four Donald Leach, Mahe Drysdale, Carl Meyer and Eric Murray. Also, Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh will advance to the women's pair final if they win their repechage.

- NZPA