MARLOW'S Rachel Cawthorn is into the semi-finals of the Canoe Sprint K1 after winning her heat this morning, while Louisa Sawers and Abi Edmonds will contest the semi-final of the Canoe Sprint K2 after coming through a nerve-wrecking heat.

Cawthorn edged out Alana Nicholls of Australia by less than a quarter of a second to take victory and ease her way into the the semi-finals.

But it was much harder for Sawers and Edmonds in their heat. With five crews from the six starting going through, they would have been confident of progressing.

But they sat fifth for most of the race and when the Australians surged ahead of them nearing the line they briefly slipped back to last place.

However, they responded at the death to inch ahead of Cuba by 0.003 seconds.

Both semi-finals take place later this morning.