Racing with heart for junior championships semifinals

Junior Men’s Single Sculls (JM1x) – Semifinals

Yesterday’s quarterfinals showed that Italy’s Giacomo Gentili was the one to beat after he recorded the fastest qualifying time. Today, Gentili raced in Semifinal One and in the lead. This is a real coming out for Gentili who raced last year in his nation’s junior quadruple sculls to a C-final finish. Gentili remained in front of Alexis Lopez Garcia of Mexico with Hungary’s Tamas Szegedi pushing through into third. These crews came into the finals sprint with enough of a margin that they did not really need to do a big sprint. Gentili kept his stroke rate at a steady 31 to remain in front.

Semifinal Two opened with Germany’s Henrik Runge really pushing the pace. Runge is already a junior champion after winning the men’s quadruple sculls last year and he looked to have the pedigree to do well this year. Following Runge was Armandas Kelmelis of Lithuania who got silver in 2014 in the men’s double sculls. With Runge still in the lead, Adam Bakker of Australia did a huge push and moved ahead of Kelmelis to close on Runge. In the final sprint Runge and Bakker did not need to sprint as they had done enough through the middle of the race to be comfortably in qualifying spots. Kelmelis, meanwhile, had to keep his eye on a charging 40-stroke-rate New Zealand. But for Benjamin Watkinson-Boyle of New Zealand it was too late. Kelmelis had qualified for the final.

Qualifiers: ITA, MEX, HUN, GER, AUS, LTU

Junior Women’s Single Sculls (JW1x) – Semifinals

Semifinal One showed the range of skills that is evident at the junior level. Some of these athletes have recently picked up the sport, while others already have international racing experience. Marieke Keijser of the Netherlands was out in front at the start and proceeded to increase her lead through the race. Behind Keijser, Alicia Bohn of Germany slotted into second and well ahead of Belgium in third. Then Italy’s Asja Maregotto had a very solid middle 500 which put her ahead of Belgium and into the final qualifying spot. This order did not change. At the line Keijser had recorded a very fast time of 7:43, just six seconds outside of the junior World Best Time and without having to push herself in the last 500m of the race. Bohn qualified from second and Maregotto took third.

Following yesterday’s heats, Sofia Asoumanaki of Greece showed that she had what it takes to do well. Already Asoumanaki is rowing in her country’s senior squad and the tall Greek is also the World Record holder for the 2000m erg race. Asoumanaki got away quickly and by the middle of the race she had an open water lead over Bulgaria’s Desislava Georgieva. China’s Xiaoman Liu followed in third. Then disaster struck for Eliza Kallfelz of the United States. Around the middle of the race Kallfelz took a bad stroke that ended her hopes of an A-final place as she fell into the water.

Heading towards the line Asoumanaki continued to lead with Liu now pushing ahead of Georgieva. Georgieva had no reply and had to let Liu through. At the line Asoumanaki’s time of 7:40 was the fastest qualifying time and just three seconds outside of the junior World Best Time.

Qualifiers: NED, GER, ITA, GRE, CHN, BUL 

Junior Men’s Pair (JM2-) – Semifinals

From yesterday’s heat Germany looked to be the crew to beat having recorded the fastest qualifying time. Today they showed this was no fluke by getting out in front at the start and remaining there in Semifinal One. Olaf Roggensack and Rene Schmela of Germany took silver last year. However, by the middle of the race the Czech Republic of Vojtech Skalak and Jan Potucek were moving with the Germans with Greece’s Georgios Papasakelariou and Konstantinos Mantzios also very much on the pace. Coming towards the line Greece put their rating up and put the effort in to draw equal with Skalak and Potucek and then overtaking the Czechs. Germany held on to first with Greece and the Czech Republic also qualifying. Germany’s time of 6:39 was just five seconds outside of the junior World Best Time.

In Semifinal Two James Mitchell and Daniel Carter of South Africa had the lead. The South Africans had won their heat yesterday after a tight race with France and today they decided to do the work at the start of the race. But Romania’s Constantin-Crist Hirgau and Alexandru Chioseaua were sticking closely to the South Africans along with Great Britain. Then the British slipped off the pace and the South Africans began to run out of steam. This gave Romania the opportunity they had been looking for and Hirgau and Chioseaua showed their pacing skills by taking the lead and holding it to the line. Romania definitely gets the prize for the best timed race.

Denmark’s Jens Graudal and Jakob Lillelund then did a big push and got ahead of South Africa. This was the order to the line with Romania staying at the head of the pack.

Qualifiers: GER, GRE, CZE, ROU, DEN, RSA

Junior Men’s Double Sculls (JM2x) – Semifinals

Semifinal One opened with Austria’s Nikolaus Brandner and David Neubauer in the lead. The Austrians had set the fastest qualifying time in yesterday’s heats, but maybe they had overexerted themselves in that race. By the half way point Hungary and France had overtaken Austria and once in the lead Hungary’s Kristof Acs and Mate Bacskai pushed away from the field. Then Slovenia’s Nik Krebs and Miha Aljancic must have decided to play their cards and they overtook both France and Austria and moved up on the leaders. Hungary, looking smooth and relaxed at a 36 stroke rate, remained in the lead to qualify from first for the final.

It was all about Italy at the start of Semifinal Two. Andrea Cattaneo and Emanuele Fiume of Italy already have a solid rowing pedigree. Cattaneo is a junior World Champion from the men’s coxed four while Fiume raced to second in 2013 in the Italian junior eight. Behind the Italians Germany followed in second with the Czech Republic following in third. This order remained through the middle of the race with Germany’s Theodor Thun and David Junge able to close on Italy.

Italy then did another push to get away from Germany, but the Germans fought back and a sprint to the line then ensued. Italy took their stroke rate to 39 with Germany on 40. Meanwhile Great Britain was giving it their all to overtake the Czechs to get into the third qualifying spot. A bad stroke by the British helped the Czechs to remain in third. Italy held off Germany to qualify from first with a time of 6:30.

Qualifiers: HUN, SLO, AUT, ITA, GER, CZE

Junior Women’s Double Sculls (JW2x) – Semifinals

A quick time in the heats put Annemieke Schanze and Frieda Hammerling of Germany into the position of being favourites. Today they raced in Semifinal One at the head of the field. Schanze and Hammerling had a blistering start so that they had more than a boat length lead after 50 strokes. Italy’s Valentina Iseppi and Allegra Francalacci followed in second but they would have to put in a big effort to catch the Germans. Hungary’s Vivien Preil and Zontana Gadanyi slotted into third.

In the final 500m Germany did not need to sprint and they dropped their stroke rate. Italy kept the pressure on holding 35 strokes per minute to keep ahead of Hungary who looked rather tired as they tried to hold it together to the line. These were the qualifying crews.

In Semifinal Two, Romania looked to be the crew to beat. Elena Logofatu and Nicoleta Pascanu of Romania were on their way to the record books. The duo had won this boat class for the last two years which is almost unheard of at the junior level as often the athletes racing here get to race at just one junior championships as 18 year olds. Logofatu and Pascanu got out cleanly at the start but with Great Britain’s Sarah Downing and Rosalind Wilson not letting the Romanians have an easy ride. Australia’s Bridget Badenoch and Georgia Wheeler were also very much on the pace and very much within striking distance of overtaking the two leading crews.

Coming into the final sprint Romania remained with a small leading margin as Australia pushed ahead of Great Britain. Then Australia did a 34 stroke rate push and briefly got ahead of Romania. Logofatu and Pascanu pushed back and again took the lead, holding it to the finish. Great Britain held on to third.

The two semifinal winners, Germany and Romania had recorded almost identical times. They would meet in tomorrow’s final.

Qualifiers: GER, ITA, HUN, ROU, AUS, GBR

Junior Women’s Double Sculls (JW2x) – Semifinals

A quick time in the heats put Annemieke Schanze and Frieda Hammerling of Germany into the position of being favourites. Today they raced in Semifinal One at the head of the field. Schanze and Hammerling had a blistering start so that they had more than a boat length lead after 50 strokes. Italy’s Valentina Iseppi and Allegra Francalacci followed in second but they would have to put in a big effort to catch the Germans. Hungary’s Vivien Preil and Zontana Gadanyi slotted into third.

In the final 500m Germany did not need to sprint and they dropped their stroke rate. Italy kept the pressure on holding 35 strokes per minute to keep ahead of Hungary who looked rather tired as they tried to hold it together to the line. These were the qualifying crews.

In Semifinal Two, Romania looked to be the crew to beat. Elena Logofatu and Nicoleta Pascanu of Romania were on their way to the record books. The duo had won this boat class for the last two years which is almost unheard of at the junior level as often the athletes racing here get to race at just one junior championships as 18 year olds. Logofatu and Pascanu got out cleanly at the start but with Great Britain’s Sarah Downing and Rosalind Wilson not letting the Romanians have an easy ride. Australia’s Bridget Badenoch and Georgia Wheeler were also very much on the pace and very much within striking distance of overtaking the two leading crews.

Coming into the final sprint Romania remained with a small leading margin as Australia pushed ahead of Great Britain. Then Australia did a 34 stroke rate push and briefly got ahead of Romania. Logofatu and Pascanu pushed back and again took the lead, holding it to the finish. Great Britain held on to third.

The two semifinal winners, Germany and Romania had recorded almost identical times. They would meet in tomorrow’s final.

Qualifiers: GER, ITA, HUN, ROU, AUS, GBR

Junior Men’s Four (JM4-) – Semifinals

Speeds were relatively equal at the start of Semifinal One. Germany had a slight lead, but Switzerland, Greece and Spain were all very much sticking to the leading pace. Then Germany, who won their heat yesterday, did a push that earned them a slight leading margin. Greece, who recorded the fastest qualifying time in the heats, then pushed into second with Spain and Switzerland holding on.

Margins remained close coming into the final sprint. Only Switzerland looked like they were not handling the pace. The sprint to the line ended with Germany remaining in the lead, Greece holding on to second and Spain, at a 39 stroke rate, qualifying ahead of Switzerland.

Leading Semifinal Two was Serbia. This was quite a surprise as Serbia had to race in both the heat and repechage yesterday to make it to today’s semifinal. Had they been holding something back? Most of the crew had 2014 junior experience in their country’s eight and they must have been used to a fast moving boat. Serbia still had the lead at the half way point with Romania now looking in a position to overtake. Romania had won their heat yesterday giving them a direct path to today’s semifinal.

Romania’s Roman, Bodnar, Grapinoiu and Radis then did a push to overtake a now tiring Serbia. This is when Great Britain and the United States attacked. Both boats pushed to the end at a 39 stroke rate pace to match each other with every stroke. Romania held off this second place sprint with Great Britain crossing just ahead of the United States. Romania had recorded the fastest qualifying time for tomorrow’s final.

Qualifiers: GER, GRE, ESP, ROU, GBR, USA

Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls (JW4x) – Semifinals

The fastest qualifier from yesterday’s heats was Great Britain and they raced in Semifinal One today and the 82nd race of this regatta. Great Britain’s Duncan, Edwards, Harding and Thornton then showed that they really had what it takes to win and they pushed clean away from their competition to a clear water lead. Denmark slotted into second with Romania and Switzerland both very much in striking distance of Denmark’s position.

The final sprint saw Great Britain still very comfortably in the lead with the battle for second and third going on behind them between Denmark, Romania, Canada and now Switzerland. This four-way sprint showed an incredibly even match between the boats with no one on the lagoon’s shores able to pick it. The Score board showed Great Britain the easy winners, Canada in second and Switzerland taking third. Romania had missed out by just 0.08 of a second and Denmark by one second.

The best start in Semifinal Two went to Germany with Russia the closest challengers. These two boats had raced each other yesterday in the heats with Germany finishing first. But maybe Russia had raced too hard yesterday. By the middle of the race Russia had slipped back into fifth with the United States closing on Germany and taking over second place.

Coming into the last 500m of the race Germany’s Reuss, Borms, and Franziska Kampmann and Laura Kampmann remained in front with the United States comfortably in second. France had pulled through into third and did not look under threat from New Zealand in fourth. The finishing order had thus been decided. Germany crossed the finish line with the fastest qualifying time, the United States took second and France qualified for the final from third.

Qualifiers: GBR, CAN, SUI, GER, USA, FRA

Junior Men’s Quadruple Sculls (JM4x) – Semifinals

Semifinal One opened with New Zealand in the lead. They had finished second in their heat yesterday. Could they hold this position as the wind now moved into a head wind scenario. Great Britain followed in second with the early speed of Brazil beginning to impact them as they slipped behind Italy who were now in third. Italy had to come through the repechage, but they looked like they were racing a very well-timed race. The final sprint was coming into view and New Zealand’s Camp, Mesman, Jenkins and Kirsop remained in first. But Great Britain were busy closing the gap. With five strokes to go Great Britain got into the lead using a 40 stroke rate pace. New Zealand on 39 held on for second. Meanwhile the drama going on behind the two leading crews saw Canada catch a crab and put them out of contention. Italy took third.

Ukraine had the fastest qualifying time from yesterday’s heats and they lined up in the centre lane of Semifinal Two. Ukraine finished 19th last year in this boat class and so far they were bettering this position already. At the start Germany had a small lead with Ukraine slotting into second. These two boats then held their own battle at the head of the field which moved them away from Poland who now sat in third.

Ukraine then got their nose ahead of Germany with the Germans holding on. In the final sprint Ukraine, rating 35, was able to pull away from Germany at 34. Poland held on to third and the boats for tomorrow’s final had thus been decided with Ukraine claiming the fastest qualifying time.

Qualifiers: GBR, NZL, ITA, UKR, GER, POL