2018 World Rowing U23 Championships - Day One
The 2018 World Rowing U23 Championships opened overnight New Zealand time in Poznan, Poland with nearly 900 rowers aiming for U23 championship success. Poznan’s Malta regatta course, surrounded by parks and recreational areas, looked splendid with a very light breeze that barely rippled the water and temperatures reaching into the high 20s Celsius.
Women’s Pair (BW2-) – Heats
This boat class had three heats lining up and the goal here was a top three finish for a direct path to the semi-finals on Friday. Romania stormed into the lead at the start of Heat Two. But it wasn’t enough. Belarus’s Dzina Haluts and Kseniya Ramanouskaya took over in the lead and looked to be the fastest boat moving into the second half of the race. Margins were close though and Italy now looked to be the crew that may catch Belarus with Romania challenging as well. Italy charged, but then looked like they had run out of push. Belarus crossed the line in first with New Zealand coming fifth and progressing to a repechage.
Men’s Coxed Four (BM4+) – Heats
There was a bit of a choppy start for Italy in the first of two heats, but it didn’t seem to slow the under-23 World Champion Italians down. They soon found the lead in Heat One with their goal of being in a top two position for a direct path to the finals. Then Germany, rating 38, got ahead of Italy. Germany and Italy were neck-and-neck going through the middle of the race with New Zealand the nearest challenger. The Italians upped their rating and got back out in front. Germany matched the Italian pace as they could see New Zealand coming. Italy, rating 40, crossed the line in first. New Zealand, in third, will have to return for the repechage.
Men’s Four (BM4-) – Heats
This boat class had three heats and the aim was to be in a top three position to move directly to the semi-finals. In Heat One Great Britain got away very quickly with New Zealand in hot pursuit. Going through the middle of the race these two countries were still neck-and-neck with New Zealand, stroked by Thomas Russel, taking a slight lead. Great Britain held on and these two boats charged to the finish line with the Kiwis at 42 and the British at 36. New Zealand took the win and recorded the fastest qualifying time overall.
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