NW Briefs: Locals row into Under-23 finals

HAZEWINKEL, Belgium — Local rowers representing the United States and Canada helped their teams advance to the finals of the World Under-23 Rowing Championships on Thursday.

In the women's eight, the U.S. crew, including Washington coxswain Katelin Snyder and Kady Glessner of Seattle, turned a 0.36-second deficit in the third 500 meters of the 2,000-meter race into a three-second advantage to clock the fastest time of the heats and earn a spot in Sunday's final.

Washington State's Sarah Waterfield and Washington's Cara Troelstra helped Canada to a fourth-place finish in the second heat, and will attempt to qualify through the repechage.

In the men's eight, the Canadian crew, stacked with four Huskies oarsmen, led from start to finish in its heat to earn a spot in the final. Chris Aylard, Will Crothers, Rob Gibson and Max Lang helped the Canadians cruise to a win in 5 minutes, 34.75 seconds.

Washington oarsman Jesse Johnson of Mercer Island helped the U.S. to a third-place finish in its heat, and the team will race in a repechage today.

Ex-Cougar to coach Western linebackers

Al Genatone, who was a graduate-assistant football coach at Washington State last year, has been named academic coordinator and linebackers coach at Western Washington.

The Kennewick native, who earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural business in 2004, was a four-year letter-winner for the Cougars, starting 27 games and finishing his career with 137 tackles.

"He has played the position and is familiar with our system," said Western coach Robin Ross. "Being from eastern Washington, he should be very valuable in helping us make strides in recruiting that area."

Notes

• The Seattle Sounders added former Western Washington goalkeeper Ben Dragavon to the roster to assist in the backup goalkeeper role. The Monroe native is Western's all-time leader in career shutouts with 18.

• Former Husky Brad Walker cemented his spot among the world's elite pole vaulters Wednesday, clearing 19 feet, 8 ¼ inches at the 2006 Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany. Walker, a Spokane native, is the first pole vaulter from any country to do so since 2004.

From college sports-information departments and other sources.