Canadians Shaffer, Von Seydlitz win gold in women’s double sculls

Canadians Kerry Shaffer and Antje Von Seydlitz on their way to winning gold in the women’s double skulls at the 2015 Pan Am Games (Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press/Peter Power)

ST. CATHARINES – Kerry Shaffer and Antje Von Seydlitz have won Canada’s first rowing gold medal at the Pan American Games.

Shaffer, from nearby Welland, Ont., and Von Seydlitz, from Smithers, B.C., finished the women’s double sculls in seven minutes 13.01 seconds.

The Canadians were more than a second ahead of the United States sin silver position.

Cuba was seven seconds back for the bronze.