Results From Wednesday Heats & Repechages

TEXT FROM FISA WORLDROWING

JUNIOR MEN’S COXED FOUR (JM4+) – HEATS

The 11 countries lined up and divided into two heats were aiming for a first place finish to get a direct path to the Final. Last year Germany and Great Britain were the two leading nations. Would they be back on top this year? These two nations were drawn in the first heat together, Germany in the outside lane and Great Britain in the middle of the field. Right from the start it was evident who had the speed.

Germany leaped into the lead in Heat One and by the half way point had nearly a boat length lead over Australia in second. Meanwhile Great Britain was desperately trying to work their way back from a very slow start. Great Britain, coxed by first timer, Rory Copus worked their way up into fourth position, but were never in striking distance of Germany.

Germany took out Heat One and will go directly to the Final.

Heat Two presented the rowing spectators with the first real race of the morning. The race unfolded with South Africa taking a small lead over Canada. These two boats then proceeded to go head to head through the body of the race with New Zealand also very much on the pace. A huge push by the United States in the third quarter got the Americans into striking distance of the three leading boats. A big sprint to the finish line was necessary.

South Africa did not have enough left and they found themselves being overtaken when the United States and Canada charged for the end. Canada, rating 36 strokes per minute, got there first despite a speedy finish by the Americans. Canada are going to the Final.

1 CAN 1:32.46 (2) 3:10.40 (2) 4:49.59 (2) 6:24.77 5
2 USA 1:34.87 (5) 3:12.75 (5) 4:51.25 (4) 6:25.75 1
3 NZL 1:34.11 (3) 3:11.36 (3) 4:50.23 (3) 6:28.15 4
4 RSA 1:31.87 (1) 3:09.58 (1) 4:49.35 (1) 6:30.84 2
5 POL 1:34.40 (4) 3:12.04 (4) 4:51.87 (5) 6:33.76 3

JUNIOR WOMEN’S SINGLE SCULLS (JW1X) – HEATS

This huge field of 31 countries featured nations from around the world – Peru was there as well as Iran and, of course, the nations known for their junior rowers including Germany, France and Italy. Last year the top two nations were Germany and the United States. Today Germany lined up in the first of six heats. The goal here was to finish in the top three positions to ensure a direct path to tomorrow’s quarterfinals.

Lisa Schmidla of Germany won a medal last year in her country’s women’s eight. In Heat One of the single Schmidla got off to a great start and used her comfortable lead to extend her dominance. Hungary followed in second with Korea slotted into third. The differences in skills appeared evident as the field remained very spread out right to the line. Germany, Hungary and Korea go to the quarterfinal. Schmidla recorded the fastest qualifying time.

Spain and Belarus were the two leading crews in Heat Two. Virginia Diaz Rivas of Spain is on her first national team and at her first international regatta. Despite this Rivas looked in control and as the race progressed she managed to extend her lead over Belarus. At the line Spain, Belarus and South Africa took the qualifying spots for the quarterfinal, Spain sneaking in just below the magical eight minute time.

China’s Ting Cao led the way in Heat Three. Cao, like Rivas, is competing in her first international event and she made sure that she got off to a fine start by remaining in the confidence-enhancing front position. Slovenia followed in second and kept Cao honest, but the Chinese, rating 26 strokes per minute, looked relaxed in the final stretch. China, Slovenia and 13 year old Natalia Sanchez Roias of Chile are in the quarterfinal. Russia originally finished third, but boat weighing after the race recorded an underweight boat and hence Russia is relegated to race in the repechage.

Heat Four presented the boat speed of Nataliya Dovgodko of Ukraine. Dovgodko is one of the most experienced rowers in this event. She has raced for the last two years at the junior worlds although she is yet to make an A-final. Last year Dovgodko finished ninth overall but her win today in Heat Four was accomplished in the second fastest qualifying time. Rating 31 at the finish Dovgodko will go to the quarterfinal along with Austria and Japan who finished second and third respectively.

A big cheer went up for Helene Lefebvre of France as she came into the finish line in Heat Five. Lefebvre is on the French national team for the second time after racing last year in the double. Lefebvre did not have an easy race of it. Nicole Bielawski of the United States led at the start and the two countries remained head-to-head through the body of the race. Bielawski then seemed to give it away in the final sprint, satisfied to finish second. Lefebvre kept the pressure on to the end. France, United States and Hong Kong China go to the quarterfinal.

The finishing order was sorted out early on in Heat Six. Great Britain’s Rachel Gamble-Flint had the fastest start and established herself in the lead with Cuba and Bulgaria slotting into second and third respectively. Gamble-Flint was fifth last year in the double and looks to have switched successfully to the single for 2009. It looks like Gamble-Flint will be the big challenger to Schmidla and Dovgodko over the coming days of racing. Great Britain, Cuba and Bulgaria move on to the quarterfinal.

1 ESP 1:51.98 (1) 3:49.77 (1) 5:53.23 (1) 7:59.01 1
2 BLR 1:52.39 (2) 3:52.88 (2) 5:57.53 (2) 8:02.21 3
3 RSA 2:00.13 (5) 4:03.22 (3) 6:10.80 (3) 8:18.38 4
4 PER 1:57.68 (3) 4:06.86 (4) 6:20.71 (4) 8:34.06 5
5 CYP 1:59.80 (4) 4:14.38 (5) 6:30.41 (5) 8:41.92 2

JUNIOR MEN’S SINGLE SCULLS (JM1x) – HEATS

The biggest field of the regatta, 36 countries lined up for the men’s single. Last year the top three boats were Bulgaria, Germany and Australia. This year two of these countries have reappeared. Today the 36 boats were divided into six heats with the top three boats in each heat earning a direct path to the quarterfinal.

Germany’s Felix Bach lined up in Heat One. Seventeen year old Bach is on the national team for the first time and he looked very able to uphold the high German junior standards as he overtook Greece, then Brazil and then held off strong challenges from the unrelenting Fabio Moreira of Brazil. The German – Brazilian battle meant that both countries were still going for it into the final sprint, Brazil rating a couple of beats higher. Germany, Brazil and Belarus went to the quarterfinal.

In Heat Two Poland’s Kamil Zajkowski did a fine job of cleaning up his opposition. Zajkowski, 18, is on his first national team and he got off to a great start by leading the entire race. France’s Clement Duret did a fine job of attacking Zajkowski, but the Pole was just that bit stronger. Poland, France and Cuba went to the quarterfinal.

Milos Vasic of Serbia was the leader of the pack in Heat Three. Vasic raced last year in the coxed four and just missed out on a medal. Today he looked comfortable as he moved away from Denmark to earn an open water lead. Coming into the line, Denmark’s Emil Laursen threw down a last 100m sprint, upping his stroke rate to 41. Vasic, on 31, continued to hold the lead. Serbia, Denmark and Bulgaria are in the quarterfinal.

It is not often that Tunisia has the lead at an international event, but today Med Houssem Laouiti of Tunisia stepped up to the mark and overtook Georgia at the start to be the leader for the rest of the race in Heat Four. Slovakia challenged Laouiti, but Laouiti was stronger. Tunisia, Slovakia and Russia went to the quarterfinal.

Olexandr Nadtoka of Ukraine had an absolutely devastating start in Heat Five. This gave the Ukrainian a clear water lead with only 500m rowed. The United States then slipped into second with China following in third. Nadtoka raced in the quad as a junior last year – perhaps this helped him to establish fast starts. Throughout the race Matthew Maddamma of the United States closed the gap on Nadtoka, but could not reach him in the remaining water. Ukraine, United States and China went to the quarterfinal.

Heat Six was led by Daniel Matyasovszki of Hungary. The Hungarian got his nose ahead of Croatia who initially remained on the leaders pace. But the Hungarian never really had to push it and his finishing time was far off any real international boat speed. Hungary, Croatia and El Salvador went to the quarterfinal.

1 TUN 1:42.70 (2) 3:31.82 (1) 5:22.94 (1) 7:16.46 2
2 SVK 1:45.10 (3) 3:32.89 (2) 5:26.15 (2) 7:18.86 3
3 RUS 1:47.23 (5) 3:38.16 (4) 5:27.05 (3) 7:21.11 6
4 GEO 1:42.43 (1) 3:33.83 (3) 5:28.82 (4) 7:29.34 4
5 HKG 1:46.44 (4) 3:41.19 (5) 5:39.65 (5) 7:43.47 1
6 RSA 1:51.63 (6) 3:54.11 (6) 5:58.89 (6) 8:03.25 5

JUNIOR WOMEN’S PAIR (JW2-) – HEATS

The three heats required boats to finish in the top two positions if they wanted a direct path to the semifinal. Last year Bulgaria finished fourth in this event. Today the nation raced in Heat One. Petrya Mavrova and Luiza-Mariya Rusinova of Bulgaria are one of the only crews today to be the same as 2008. This must give them a huge advantage. Although the duo came out in third at the start, they managed to get in front of South Africa and the United States to finish first. In one of the tightest races of the morning, these three countries remained locked together for the entire race. The United States was the unlucky one and will have to return for the repechage. Bulgaria and South Africa go to the semifinal.

Romania won silver last year in this event. Today they raced in Heat Two and found the strongest challenge coming from China and France. By the half way point, Mihaela Petrila and Andreea Boghian of Romania had shaken off France and then worked on getting away from China. The Chinese were unrelenting. The boats remained neck-and-neck in the final sprint, Romania staying just a fraction in front. Romania and China are in the semifinal.

Heat Three featured last year’s bronze medallists, Belarus. Both rowers, however, are new to international rowing so a different combination to the 2008 medallists. They showed confidence and style by racing at the head of the field over Germany. Belarus rated 30 strokes per minute in the close of the race and will go to the semifinal along with Germany.

1 BUL 1:49.85 (3) 3:44.80 (3) 5:41.13 (3) 7:30.49 3
2 RSA 1:48.86 (2) 3:41.98 (2) 5:38.34 (2) 7:31.78 5
3 USA 1:45.74 (1) 3:40.68 (1) 5:37.92 (1) 7:32.03 6
4 GRE 1:51.43 (5) 3:47.35 (4) 5:45.34 (4) 7:43.53 1
5 HUN 1:51.09 (4) 3:48.97 (5) 5:52.68 (5) 7:59.58 4
6 IND 1:57.72 (6) 4:00.73 (6) 6:04.65 (6) 8:07.49 2

JUNIOR MEN’S DOUBLE SCULLS (JM2x) – HEATS

This event attracted 34 nations and they were divided into six heats with the top three in each heat earning a spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinal. Germany, Lithuania and Australia finished first, second and third in 2008, but this year was a clean slate at the start of the 2000m course.

Heat One opened with Germany hoping to set the standard. Hubert Trzybinski and Timo Piontek are in their first season together with Trzybinski being a junior World Champion from last year’s quad. The Germans kept the power on through the majority of the race as they held the lead over Italy. Coming into the final sprint, Piontek and Trzybinski seemed content to just hold their spot and their 24 stroke rate made them look like they were out for a training row. Italy and Portugal qualify for the quarterfinal from second and third spots respectively.

Lithuania led Heat Two at the start and coming through the third 500 they had built up over a boat length lead. But then France, who had been sitting in second, on hearing the crowd support, upped their rating and charged for the line. Rating 35 strokes per minute to Lithuania’s 28, France’s Mathieu Lissoir and Fabien Cornier crossed the line first. France, Lithuania and Croatia advance directly to the quarterfinal.

Heat Three sorted out the top three boats early in the piece. Serbia’s Djeric Radoje and Jovan Jovanovic slipped away in first followed by Denmark and Greece. This order remained the same through the body of the race. But then Denmark pulled out a huge sprint, rating 39 strokes per minute, to bear down on Serbia. Serbia, rating 30, seemed relatively unconcerned and just managed to stay in front. Serbia, Denmark and Greece made it to the quarterfinal.

China’s Yueqi Zeng and Hongjun Hu recorded the fastest qualifying time in Heat Four. But they did not do it by leading from start to finish. Quite the contrary. China came out of the start in fourth and then managed to work their way up into second by the half way point. From here they kept the pressure on through the third 500 so that by the final sprint, China had pulled into the lead. Switzerland, in second, challenged back using a 42 stroke rate sprint. But China, on 38, held them off. China, Switzerland and Romania will go to the quarterfinal.

As the temperature continued to rise through the afternoon, junior rowers lined up in Heat Five. Oleksandr Gurzhii and Anton Bondarenko of Ukraine showed that they were in a completely different class right from the start. The duo were so far ahead, even with just 500m rowed, that it looked like two races were going on. At the finish Gurzhii and Bondarenko were nearly 30 seconds ahead of Cyprus in second. Ukraine, Cyprus and Algeria are the qualifying crews.

The final heat, Heat Six opened with Slovenia in the lead. Tadej Japelj and Gasper Kokalj of Slovenia both raced in the quad last year finishing 12th. In the double they got off to a great start leaving the rest of the field to battle it out for second and third. Going through the middle of the race, four crews still very much had a shot at qualifying. Then Moldova dropped off the pace and the fight was left between the Czech Republic, Belgium and Bulgaria. Bulgaria upped their rating to 39. The Czech Republic did not have a good enough sprint. Slovenia, Bulgaria and Belgium will go to the quarterfinal.

1 SRB 1:33.01 (1) 3:12.26 (1) 4:54.02 (1) 6:38.66 4
2 DEN 1:35.10 (2) 3:15.52 (2) 4:59.04 (2) 6:40.51 3
3 GRE 1:36.67 (3) 3:18.97 (3) 5:02.40 (3) 6:44.16 6
4 USA 1:42.08 (5) 3:27.53 (5) 5:09.65 (4) 6:52.68 5
5 TUR 1:38.34 (4) 3:25.52 (4) 5:14.81 (5) 7:04.67 1
6 RSA 1:44.78 (6) 3:36.66 (6) 5:28.83 (6) 7:20.06 2

JUNIOR MEN’S SINGLE SCULLS (JM1x) – REPECHAGES

Being the biggest event at this regatta, 17 boats lined up in three repechages and their aim was to be in the top two for a chance to race in tomorrow’s quarterfinals. Repechage One opened with Vasileios Kourtis of Greece in the lead. Kourtis joins the Greek national team for the first time this year and he managed to keep his boat just ahead of Alvis Berzins of Latvia. Berzins put up a good fight through the middle of the race and then tried to close the gap again in the final sprint. But it was purely academic as Kourtis and Berzins both held the qualifying spots with Japan, in third, a bit too far back to truly attack.

These repechages introduce many developing rowing nations to the international rowing scene and Repechage Two was a clear reflection of this. At the start Albania’s Marsel Nikaj showed his early speed. With Egypt being the closest challenger. Egypt then began to slip back giving Hong Kong China a chance to move on up. But distances were close and coming into the final sprint Sangmin Lee of Korea was able to use his extra stamina to get into second and move on Nikaj in first. In the sprint to the line Lee upped his stroke rate to 37. Nikaj, at 33 could not hold off Lee. Lee and Nikaj earned a spot in the quarterfinal from first and second respectively.

Zan Cvet of Slovenia is 18 years old and 190cm tall and is in his second year on the junior team. All of these points are relevant as it gives him good odds that he will do well. In Repechage Three Cvet may not have been the fastest starter but he did what was necessary to keep close tabs on leader, Georgi Bagaturia of Georgia and sneaked into first at the end. Bagaturia, underrating Cvet, crossed the line just behind Cvet. These are the two boats that will be going to the quarterfinals.

1 GRE 1:50.29 (1) 3:44.58 (1) 5:39.46 (1) 7:33.11 3
2 LAT 1:51.25 (2) 3:46.47 (2) 5:42.77 (2) 7:35.55 2
3 JPN 1:54.10 (5) 3:49.30 (3) 5:47.24 (4) 7:41.09 4
4 PER 1:52.19 (3) 3:49.48 (4) 5:45.68 (3) 7:41.70 1
5 RSA 1:53.37 (4) 3:55.06 (5) 6:02.14 (5) 8:07.90 6

JUNIOR MEN’S QUAD SCULLS (JM4x) – REPECHAGES

The three repechages in this last event of the day required boats to take a top two position if they wanted to keep their advancement chances alive. In Repechage One, the 63rd race of the day, the United States made out the best in these hot conditions. Stroked by Michael Wales, the US had to hold off a strong challenge from China for the entire 2000m course. China used aggression, the United States focused more on synchronicity. The two boats qualified for the quarterfinals, the United States finishing in front rating three beats lower than the Chinese.

Belarus led the way in Repechage Two and in this lead they managed to record the fastest repechage time. With Vitaly Horshva in stroke seat, Belarus held off Greece who held a steady pace throughout the race in second place. Greece had to keep an eye out for Portugal which in turn pushed them towards Belarus. The Portuguese did not have enough oomph to get into the qualifying positions. Belarus and Greece will go to the quarterfinals.

Japan must have given Romania quite a surprise in the final Repechage. Romania got out in front followed by Slovenia. But by the half way point it was Japan that was posing the major threat to Romania’s leading position. In the final sprint both boats, side by side, raced for the line. Japan, underrating Romania by two beats, was holding up. Romania crossed the line just in front and both boats qualified for tomorrow’s quarterfinals.

1 LAT 1:39.99 (1) 3:27.33 (1) 5:19.99 (1) 7:13.00 3
2 ZIM 1:41.93 (2) 3:31.94 (2) 5:24.68 (2) 7:16.35 4
3 ISR 1:45.16 (3) 3:38.99 (3) 5:34.21 (3) 7:22.88 2
4 RSA 1:48.89 (4) 3:43.48 (4) 5:44.59 (4) 7:38.94 1
5 QAT 1:54.89 (5) 4:03.50 (5) 6:10.36 (5) 8:14.42 5