Clayton’s Kara Kohler roars into Olympic Rowing Trials semi-finals

UPDATE, Feb. 24, 2021: Semi-final field set as Kara Kohler seeks her 2nd US Olympic rowing team berth.

CLAYTON, CA — Kara Kohler is the reigning world championships’ bronze medalist. She has scored impressive victories on the opening two days of the United States Olympic Rowing Trials in Sarasota, Florida.

On Tuesday, the Clayton native won the third heat by more than 10 seconds in 8:13.44 in the women’s single sculls. Her chief rival Gevvie Stone, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the event, won the fourth heat by over nine seconds, clocking an 8:12.30. The four heat winners advanced to Thursday’s semifinals.

The finals are Friday with the winner earning the first US Rowing team berth for the Tokyo Olympics.

On Monday, Kohler opened her bid for a second Olympic team berth. She won the Time Trials with a time three seconds faster than Stone.

Related story: Kara Kohler seeks 2nd Olympic team berth this week at US Rowing trials