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US favored for gold in eight

Compiled by Globe Staff, 09/15/2000

WHEN: Sept. 22 (single sculls, pairs, double sculls, fours), Sept. 23 (lightweight double sculls, lightweight fours, quadruple sculls, eight).

US ENTRIES: Christian Ahrens, Tom Auth, Sebastian Bea, Pete Cipollone, Atwood Porter Collins, Mike Ferry, Conal Groom, Sean Hall, Bob Kaehler, Jeff Klepacki, James Koven, Ian McGowan, Garrett Miller, Eric Mueller, Ted Murphy, Henry Nuzum, Nick Peterson, Greg Ruckman, Marc Schneider, Dave Simon, Don Smith, Paul Teti, Robert Tucker, Jake Wetzel, Michael Wherley

FAVORITES:

• Single sculls: 1. Rob Waddell, New Zealand; 2. Xeno Mueller, Switzerland; 3. Derek Porter, Canada
• Double sculls: 1. Slovenia; 2. Germany; 3. Norway
• Lightweight double sculls: 1. Italy; 2. Australia; 3. Germany
• Quadruple sculls: 1. Germany; 2. Ukraine; 3. Australia
• Pair: 1. Australia; 2. France; 3. Croatia
• Four: 1. Great Britain; 2. Australia; 3. Italy
• Lightweight four: 1. Denmark; 2. Australia; 3. France
• Eight: 1. US; 2. Great Britain; 3. Russia.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Americans haven't won gold since 1964 or any medal since 1988, but after three straight world titles they're the clear favorite in the Eight. If they pull it off, coach Mike Teti gets a statue on Philly's Boathouse Row. The next best bet for the US could be Murphy and Bea in the Pair now that Britain's Steven Redgrave has switched to the Four.

WOMEN

WHEN: Sept. 22 (single sculls, pairs, double sculls), Sept. 23 (lightweight double sculls, quadruple sculls, eight).

US ENTRIES: Christine Collins, Ruth Davidon, Jen Dore-Terhaar, Sarah Garner, Hilary Gehman, Karen Kraft, Katie Maloney, Amy Martin, Missy Ryan, Kelly Salchow, Carol Skricki, Monica Tranel Michini.

FAVORITES:

• Single sculls: 1. Ekaterina Karsten, Belarus; 2. Katrin Rutschow, Germany; 3. Irina Fedotova, Russia
• Double sculls: 1. Germany; 2. Netherlands; 3. Lithuanians
• Lightweight double sculls: 1. Romania; 2. US; 3. Australia
• Quadruple sculls: 1. Germany; 2. Ukraine; 3. Russia
• Pair: 1. Canada; 2. Germany; 3. Australia
• Eight: 1. Romania; 2. US; 3. Canada.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Romanians are defending Olympic and world champs in the lightweight double sculls, but Garner and Collins won the global title two years ago. They're solid for silver, but need to make up a length for gold. If Kraft and Ryan, who won silver in Atlanta, can regain world-level form, they're in the mix in the pairs.