The Games Begin
Saturday, July 24th
By James O’Brien
As I try to get ready to head to Tokyo on Monday (more complicated that it may sound), I compiled a snapshot of today’s competition at the Olympic Games. Immediately evident is that the US women’s water polo team is on fire and the US women’s eight in rowing is looking great. While today was a tough day for our female epeeists, Catie DeLoof advanced to the next round in the women’s 4x100m FS relay. Angie Delgado competes in judo this evening (10pm EST) and the men’s triathlon takes place tomorrow with NYAC medal hopes – if all goes well, the first of these Games.
This is just a snapshot. Our full daily updates will commence once I get to Tokyo. (Leaving Monday night, arriving Wednesday morning. That is what’s known as a long flight!)
Rowing – Women’s Eight Qualifies for Final
Windy conditions caused some scheduling delays, but Team USA’s women’s eight and men’s four both advanced directly to the finals in Saturday morning (Friday evening in NY) rowing competition at Tokyo’s Sea Forest Waterway.
The US women’s eight is a three-time defending champion. The Tokyo 2020 incarnation, including the NYAC’s Charlotte Buck, Olivia Coffey, Meghan Musnicki, Kristine O’Brien and Katelin Guregian, recovered from a slow start that saw them 0.92 seconds behind after 500m. They made up the difference by the halfway mark, opening as much as a 2.09-second lead before hitting the line in 6:08.69. The final takes place on Thursday at 7:45pm (EST) – Friday morning in Japan.
Three other baots with NYAC members aboard all moved to repecahges taking place at 8pm EST this evening:
- Women’s pair, comprised of the NYAC’s Megan Kalmoe and Tracy Eisser
- Women’s four, with Kendall Chase and Grace Luczak aboard
- Women’s quadruple sculls crew with Ellen Tomek and Meghan O’Leary
The top two finishers move on to race for the medals.
Water Polo – US Team Scores Historic Win
Team USA unleashed the most prolific offensive attack in Olympic women’s water polo history Saturday afternoon, defeating host Japan 25-4 at Tokyo’s Tatsumi Water Polo Center.
Several elements of the USA’s offensive output were Olympic high-water marks: total number of goals (25, surpassing the 16 scored by China and Australia at the Olympic Games London 2012), most goals in a half (14 in the first half, surpassing the 10 scored on four occasions, most recently by Russia against Brazil in 2016), and margin of victory (21, surpassing the 13 by Australia against Great Britain in 2012).
The NYAC’s Maggie Steffens opened the fireworks show with a goal 21 seconds into the match, then added another 92 seconds later. Steffens and her fellow winged foot team mate, Stephanie Haralabidis, shared individual scoring honors with five apiece, while six Team USA members had multiple goals. Madeline Musselman (NAYC) and Aria Fischer contributed four apiece, while Paige Hauschild and Kaleigh Gilchrist (NYAC) chipped in two each. All told, nine USA players scored.
The NYAC’s legendary goalkeeper, Ashleigh Johnson, played stout defense in goal, stopping 15 of Japan’s 19 shots, including a perfect 10-for-10 on action shots. Miku Koide led the host nation with two goals.
The next match for Team USA is Monday (26th) at 1am EST when they play China.
Fencing – A Tough Day on the Piste
It was a disappointing day for the NYAC’s fencers at the Makuhari Messe Hall.
Kelley Hurley made it to the table of 16 in women’s epee, edging Estonia’s Erika Kirpu 15-14 before falling to Aizanat Murtazaeva of the Russian Olympic Committee, 15-11. Hurley’s younger sister Courtney dropped her opening bout to Zhu Mingye of China, 15-8. Katharine Holmes fell to Korea’s Song Sera 15-12.
Fencing action continues tomorrow at 5am EST when world #14 Nicole Ross will compete in women’s foil. Jake Hoyle will also be in action the men’s epee competition.
Triathlon – Hopes are High
The men’s triathlon takes place tomorrow (Sunday) at 5.30pm EST. The NYAC’s Vincent Luis (representing France) is among the top ranked racers in the world, while Morgan Pearson has been showing all the form of a medal contender in recent times. Pearson commented: “I just want to have a race that I’m proud of. We’ve put in this training, we’ve put in the preparation. I want to have a race where I’m putting out what I know I can do. We’ll see where I finish and what that means, but if I can just have that output that I know I’m capable of, then I’ll be happy.”
The race will be broadcast live on USA Network and will also be available via livestream on the NBC Sports App and NBCOlympics.com.