Canadian rowers Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee win Olympic silver

RIO DE JANEIRO – Canadian rowers Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee have won a silver medal in the women’s lightweight double sculls at the Rio Olympics.

The Victoria duo raced to a time of seven minutes 5.88 seconds at Lagoa Stadium.

Ilse Paulis and Maaike Head of the Netherlands won gold in 7:04.73 while China’s Huang Wenyi and Pan Feihong were third in 7:06.49.

The Canadians showed off their impressive finishing power. They were fifth at the 1,000-metre mark, three seconds off the pace. Entering the final 500, they had shaved the deficit to 1.63 seconds to sit third. A powerful kick down the stretch propelled them to second.

Jennerich and Obee were left devastated after flaming out in the semifinals four years ago at the London Games, finishing a disappointing seventh overall.

The pair were fourth at last year’s world championships after placing second in 2014, but they found their groove in the lead-up to Brazil, winning their final World Cup race in May.

Canada had another chance at a podium later Friday when Will Crothers of Kingston, Ont., Kai Langerfeld of North Vancouver, B.C., Conlin McCabe of Brockville, Ont., and Tim Schrijver of Thedford, Ont., raced in the men’s four final.

In Friday’s early race involving a Canadian, Carling Zeeman of Cambridge, Ont., finished fourth in her women’s single sculls semi, just missing out on a spot in the final. She will race in Satuday’s consolation race.

Canada’s women’s eight will take part in Saturday’s final.