The U.S. advanced all four crews to highlight the first day of racing at the 2010 Rowing World Cup #2 in Munich, Germany. The U.S. contingent includes one entry each in the men's double sculls, lightweight men's double sculls, men's quadruple sculls and men's four.
In the men's four, the U.S. won its heat by 0.69 seconds to advance to the semifinals. The crew of Josh Inman (Hillsboro, Ore.), Henrik Rummel (Pittsford, N.Y.), Brett Newlin (Riverton, Wyo.) and Giuseppe Lanzone (Annandale, Va.) was in second place behind Australia over the first 1,000 meters before taking the lead. The U.S. crossed the line in a 5:56.97, with Australia's Matthew Ryan, James Marburg, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg and Francis Hegerty in second with a 5:57.66. Czech Republic finished third in a 6:06.46, followed by Australia's C entry in fourth and China's A and B entries in fifth and sixth, respectively. Inman won bronze in the men's eight at the 2008 Olympic Games, while Newlin and Lanzone were members of the men's four that finished ninth in Beijing. Rummel won gold in the men's pair with coxswain at the 2009 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland.
In the men's quadruple sculls event, the U.S. crew of Scott Gault (Piedmont, Calif.), Will Miller (Duxbury, Mass.), Wes Piermarini (West Brookfield, Mass.) and Elliot Hovey (Manchester-By-The-Sea, Mass.) finished second in its heat to advance to the semifinals. Russia, Australia and the United States raced nearly even over the first half of the race course. Australia pulled ahead in the sprint to cross first in a 5:49.32, with the U.S. second in a 5:51.44. Russia grabbed the final qualifying spot, clocking a 5:52.59 for third. Gault finished fifth in the event at the 2008 Olympic Games, while Piermarini and Hovey competed in the men's double sculls in Beijing. Miller, as well as Hovey, placed 12th in the quadruple sculls at last year's world championships.
The lightweight men's double sculls duo of Brian de Regt (Rowayton, Conn.) and Jon Winter (New Haven, Conn.) recorded a second-place finish in its heat to advance to the semifinals. Germany's Lars Hartig and Linus Lichtschlag led the race from wire-to-wire, crossing 4.03 seconds ahead of the U.S. in a 6:24.00. Winter and de Regt sat in third place at the 1,000-meter mark but were able to move through Mexico to take second at the line, posting a time of 6:28.03. Mexico finished in a 6:34.30, followed by Czech Republic and Hong Kong in fourth and fifth, respectively. Winter took sixth in the lightweight men's quadruple sculls at the 2009 World Rowing Championships, while de Regt was a member of the lightweight men's four that finished 12th. Coming off its victory in the lightweight men's double sculls at NSR #2 this spring, de Regt and Winter won the B final at the first world cup in Bled for a seventh-place finish overall.
After finishing third in its morning heat of the men's double sculls, Warren Anderson (Paso Robles, Calif.) and Glenn Ochal (Philadelphia, Pa.) came back to win the afternoon repechage and advance to the semifinals. In the heat, Switzerland's Andre Vonarburg and Florian Stofer crossed first to advance with a time of 6:18.56. Germany pulled ahead of Anderson and Ochal in the last 500 meters to take second in a 6:20.44, with the U.S. third in a 6:21.53. In the repechage, the U.S. duo took the lead at the 1,000-meter mark and held on to win by open water in a 6:26.56. Ukraine's B entry crossed second in a 6:31.19, followed by Russia and Ukraine A. Anderson and Ochal were both members of the 2009 U.S. National Team and won the double sculls at NSR #2 earlier this year.
Racing continues Saturday at 9 a.m. local time with semifinals. Finals will be held Sunday beginning at 8:20 a.m. local time and will be streamed live at http://fisa.feedroom.com/. For complete schedule and results, www.worldrowing.com.
More than 650 athletes from 40 countries are entered in the second stage of the 2010 Rowing World Cup series, which will be held at the 1972 Olympic Games rowing venue. The Rowing World Cup series was launched in 1997 and includes all 14 Olympic boat classes. The overall Rowing World Cup winners are determined after a series of three regattas. Germany has dominated the series since its beginning ten years ago. This year, the three stages of the series are held in Bled, Slovenia (May 27-30), Munich, Germany (June 18-20) and in Lucerne, Switzerland (July 9-11).