Cris Nievarez looks to cap off his Tokyo 2020 Olympics campaign on a high note as he booked a slot in the D final of the rowing classification phase on Thursday, July 29, at the Sea Forest Waterway.

Nievarez clocked 7 minutes and 26.05 seconds in the men’s single sculls semifinal C/D for a fifth place finish in the heat.

He failed to make the top three cut that would have put him to the C final, and was instead relegated to the D final classification round, which will kick off on Friday, July 30, 7:35 am, Philippine time.

The 21-year-old’s best possible finish would be at 19th place out of 32 rowers participating in the event, and at worst, at 24th place.

Nievarez missed his medal chance when he failed to advance to the semifinal A/B in the quarterfinal.

The first-time Olympian was the only Southeast Asian qualifier in the men’s singles sculls.

Nievarez secured a Tokyo 2020 Olympics berth by virtue of continental qualification regattas, where five national Olympic committees (NOCs) were awarded slots in the quadrennial meet.

A lean 5-foot-11 native of Atimonan, Quezon, Nievarez became the first Filipino rower in 20 years to qualify for the Olympics since sport legend Benjie Tolentino. – Rappler.com