by Justin Davis

BEIJING, Aug 16, 2008 (AFP) – Britain’s Rebecca Romero is assured of writing a page in the Olympic history books after qualifying Saturday for the women’s individual pursuit final alongside compatriot Wendy Houvenaghel.

Romero, who won an Olympic rowing silver four years ago in the women’s quadruple sculls, clocked a time of three minutes 27.7 seconds in her heat against Australian Katie Mactier, who failed to make the medal rounds.

New Zealand’s Alison Shanks will meet Ukrainian Lesya Kalitovska in the bronze medal match.

The 28-year-old Romero is the reigning world champion in the 3,000 meter race against the clock and is now being tipped to land further gold for the pace-setting British track team.

It promises, however, to be a hotly-contested final on Sunday.

Houvenaghel, a bronze medallist at world level, posted the fastest time in qualifying Friday and almost matched Romero’s performance here Saturday in a time of 3:27.8.

“Wendy is an awesome athlete,” said Romero, who is sure of becoming just the second woman in Olympic history, and the first from Britain, to win medals from two different sports at the summer Games.

Roswitha Krause, of the former East Germany, won a swimming silver at the
1968 Games in Mexico from the women’s 4x100m relay.

She then won silver in the women’s handball final at the 1976 Games in Montreal, and won handball bronze at Moscow in 1980.

Another athlete, American Tim Shaw, won a swimming silver medal in Montreal in 1976 and a water polo silver in Los Angeles eight years later.

“I’m really pleased,” beamed Romero. “I’ve had coaches taking me aside and telling me I’ve made history! Now I have at least got the silver.

“I’ve had a smile on my face about that. There’s no other athlete in the
(Olympic) village that can say that.”

Houvenaghel will appear in her first Olympic final, but says the thought of facing Romero is not worrying her.

“Whatever happens tomorrow (Sunday), it’s really got nothing to do with who it’s against, it’s getting my best (performance) out,” she said.

“I can’t change anything or give any more.”

American favourite Sarah Hammer failed to make the final after being upstaged in heat one by Shanks, who posted a time of 3:32.4.

The women’s world record for the individual pursuit is still held by retired New Zealander Sarah Ulmer, who clocked 3:24.537 on her way to gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.