Sam Burns and Andrew Brennan clocked a 6:41.57 to win their heat of the men’s pair on the first day of competition at the 2002 World Under 23 Regatta in Genoa, Italy.
Racing in the first heat, Burns (Seattle, Wash.) and Brennan (Valley Forge, Pa.) finished 5.06 seconds ahead of the second-place crew from Italy. Yugoslavia finished third in the heat in a time of 6:50.06. All three crews earned spots in the semifinals. Germany and Great Britain won the other two heats, clocking a 6:46.38 and 7:04.36, respectively, but neither crew could match the United States’ time.
The U.S. also has crews entered in the women’s pair, women’s four and men’s eight. The women’s four and men’s eight will race their heats on Friday, while the women’s pair will get started on Saturday. Last year, the U.S. brought home silver medals in both the women’s four and the men’s eight.