By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno  

Filipino rower Cris Nievarez (File photo)

MANILA (Philippines News Agency) — Filipino rower Cris Nievarez took a fifth place finish in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics men’s single sculls event on Sunday at the Sea Forest Waterway in the Japanese capital.

Despite staying away from the bottom, Nievarez missed out on making the semifinals as he finished way behind the Top 3.

Nievarez clocked in at seven minutes and 50.74 seconds in Heat 4, some 34 seconds behind Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania, who got the last semifinal spot for Heat 4.

Oliver Zeidler of Germany won the heat at the time of 7:12.75, while Brazil’s Lucas Verthein placed second at 7:14.26.

Zeidler gradually zoomed ahead of the pack as the race went on en route to smooth sailing.

Griskonis, however, had a chance at moving higher in the rankings after overtaking Verthein for second with 500 meters left in the two-kilometer course before the latter got his bearing back to secure the second spot.

New Zealand’s Jordan Parry was actually toe-to-toe with Griskonis and even Verthein for the last semifinal spot, but Parry slowed down halfway through the race and eventually fell short despite the strong finish.

Nievarez, Parry, and Iraq’s Mohammed Al-Khafaji will still play in a repechage round on Tuesday as they look to end their Olympic stints on a higher note. (PNA)