Warm lake water, a cross-tail breeze and the best under-19 rowers in the world meant that times would be fast at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships. Racing on day two in Plovdiv, Bulgaria saw the remaining heats being completed.

Men’s coxed four (JM4+) – Heats

This boat class had two heats and the top two boats from each heat would go directly to the finals. Turkey and Italy had a great start in Heat One and they headed through into the half way point leading the field. Italy was at 38 and Turkey at 37 and they were moving clean away from the rest of the field. Italy had the lead over Turkey but the Turks were making sure that they kept in contact with the Italian crew. Germany followed in third and coming into the second half of the race the Germans had a lot of work to do to get into a qualifying spot.

Turkey then took the lead, Italy fought back and got their nose ahead again. Coming into the close of the race Germany chose not to push it with Italy finishing just ahead of Turkey.

It was very tight at the start of Heat Two with the United States, Russia, France and Ukraine in a virtual line. By the middle of the race the United States had broken away with France and Ukraine now battling it out for second. The US was rating high at 38 with France and Ukraine still neck and neck. As the US took the win, France snuck ahead of Ukraine to earn the second qualifying spot.

Qualifiers: ITA, TUR, USA, FRA

Women’s pair (JW2-) – Heats

Two heats lined up and the goal was to be in a top two spot for a direct path to the finals. In Heat One Russia had the lead at the start. They went to their pace rating 36 strokes per minute. The United States followed closely and used a similar stroke rate pace. Then came Italy and Spain. Russia and the US were now neck-and-neck going through the middle of the race with Spain and Italy moving up. This was a four-boat race as Italy’s Emma Piersanti and Chiara Fanciulli did a big push that got them into first. Italy moved to 37 strokes per minute and now had an open water lead. This left the US, Spain and Russia battling it out for second. The US had the most support from the spectator stand but it was Russia who had the best sprint to take second.

The fastest moving boat at the start of Heat Two was Germany’s Lena Gresens and Anni Koetitz. But then Romania’s Mihaela-Cosmina Dram and Georgelia Stoica picked up their speed and took over in the lead. Then France came back and overtook Germany and then Romania to grab the lead. The French were the fastest boat on the water and they were moving away from Romania. In the final sprint Chile tried to get into a qualifying spot. It was a sprint to the line. France’s Zelie Jacoulet and Fleur Vaucoret had done it with a 35 stroke rate pace at the end and the fastest qualifying time of 7:27. Chile had done it in the final sprint to take second.

Qualifiers: ITA, RUS, FRA, CHI

Women’s four (JW4-) – Heats

The first two across the line would be in the final in these two heats. Leading the way at the start of Heat One was Romania. But only just with the United States matching the speed of the Romanians. France came next. As they came into the middle of the race the United States had got their boat in front with Romania trying to hold on. Then France moved into a piece and got ahead of Romania and into a qualifying position.

Meanwhile the US was loving being at the head of the field and they now had a full boat length lead. It looked like Romania couldn’t react back on France as the French tried to catch the United States. And they did! In the final sprint France got to the finish line in first and in the fastest qualifying time. The US qualified from second.

It was Italy that had the fastest pace as Heat Two got under way. But Germany wasn’t letting the Italians get away and these two crews moved together at the head of the field. Italy then got a bit of an advantage. They were at 38 strokes per minute and keeping ahead of Germany. Still rating high at 37 strokes per minute Italy retained the lead and they were now over a length ahead of Germany. These two boats were under no threat from the rest of the field. Coming into the final sprint it looked like Italy and Germany had the qualifying spots wrapped up. And they had. These two crews are in the final.

Qualifiers: FRA, USA, ITA, GER

Men’s four (JM4-) – Heats

The two heats in this boat class meant that a first place finish was needed for a direct path to the final. It was incredibly tight at the start of the race in Heat One with just over a second separating all crews at the first 500m mark. Ukraine had a very small lead but there was a lot of racing to go. The Greeks then picked up the pace and became the fastest boat on the regatta course. Greece went through the middle of the race at 38 strokes per minute and had taken the lead. Romania followed in second with Ukraine moving with them as the race began to spread out. Then Romania did a big push and tried to catch Romania. Greece held them off to take the one qualifying spot.

In Heat Two Spain and Germany proved to be the fastest at the start. They sat next to each other in lane three and four and they looked to be pacing each other through the second 500m of the race. Coming into the middle of the race Spain had a small lead rating 37 with Italy moving up to challenge Germany. Spain continued to lead and held their stroke rate to break clean away from the rest of the field in the third 500. Italy and Germany remained neck-and-neck as they moved into the final sprint. Italy went to 38 strokes per minute and tried to catch Spain. The Spanish didn’t let them and they came through crossing the line with a hefty lead and the fastest qualifying time.

Qualifiers: GRE, ESP

Women’s quadruple sculls (JW4x) – Heats

This boat class had two heats and only one crew would get to go through directly to the final. Germany was moving the quickest at the start of Heat One. They were followed very closely by the Czech Republic. Germany got to the middle of the race in front but the Czech Republic was holding on. Behind these two leading crews was Russia who were still within striking distance with half the race to go.

Germany moved into the final sprint still in the lead and still with the fastest boat speed rating 37 strokes per minute. Russia had dropped back giving the Czechs an easy second place. Germany went down to 36 as they closed on the final 250m. Canada was moving up and in the final sprint they overtook the Czech Republic but, being in second, they will return to race the repechage.

It was an almighty start for Switzerland. They got away quickly in Heat Two and with just 500m rowed the field was already spread by over three seconds. Romania followed in second. Switzerland then moved out to move than a boat length lead over Romania who had to keep an eye on Italy in the outside lane. Switzerland was at a solid 35 strokes per minute as Italy made a big push. The Italians got ahead of Romania and looked to be closing on Switzerland. But the Swiss looked tidy and strong as they moved into the final 500m.

Switzerland held off Italy as they crossed the line in first to the sound of cow bells coming from the grandstand and with the fastest qualifying time.

Qualifiers: GER, SUI

Men’s eight (JM8+) – Heats

The fastest boats at this regatta, the men’s eight lined up next with two heats and the task of finishing first or second for a direct path to the finals. Belarus had a great start in Heat One and they were still at 40 strokes per minute at the 500m mark. Germany, at 39, followed closely. But the Belarusian speed was impressive and they now had nearly a boat length over Germany with Hungary and Romania neck-and-neck for third. Then Germany managed to close on Belarus as they went through the middle of the race. This would definitely be a full 2000m race for these crews.

Belarus was at 37 strokes per minute and Germany had the overlap as these two boats went through the third 500. They were close to the pace for a new junior World Best Time. A German push got them closer to Belarus, but they could not break into the lead. Germany pushed on and Belarus was doing all they could to hold off Germany. They couldn’t. Germany finished first and Belarus qualified for the final from second.

At the start of Heat Two it was incredibly tight. At the first 500m mark just over a second separated the entire field. Russia had a small lead with the United States following very closely in second. The United States then got up to Russia and tried to push past. Russia held them off but the US wasn’t giving up and they were now the fastest boat on the water. In the third 500 the US got their nose ahead of Russia and kept their speed on. The United States crossed the line in first in the fastest qualifying time and a boat length ahead of Russia in second. Both boats will qualify for the final.

Qualifiers: GER, BLR, USA, RUS

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Heats completed at 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships

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