Seven Canadian crews qualified for the medal rounds today at the 2003 World Rowing Championships in Milan, Italy. And in the Olympic class events, the women's pair, men's pair, men's four, lightweight women's double, lightweight men's four and the Canadian men’s eight have also now guaranteed a spot for Canada at the Games next year.
Canada's men's eight continued its streak of flawless performances - winning its semi-final race today in a time of 5:36.18, followed by Australia (5:38.31) and France (5:40.05).
The Canadian eight is the defending World Champion. "Our goal was to win the heat and semi-final," said crew member Adam Kreek. "The psychology is a lot different than last year when we were an unknown factor. We have higher expectations of ourselves, and it's easier to make it to the top than it is to stay there."
Canadian crew members are Joe Stankevicius of Dundas, Ont., Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C., Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C., Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C., Dave Calder of Victoria, B.C., Andrew Hoskins of Edmonton, Alta., Adam Kreek of London, Ont., Jeff Powell of Winnipeg, Man. and Brian Price of Belleville, Ont. The men's eight is coached by Mike Spracklen.
The men's four, also coached by Spracklen, moves to the finals after finishing a strong second behind the powerful German crew today. The four consists of Cam Baerg of Saskatoon, Sask., Tom Herschmiller of Comox, B.C., Jake Wetzel of Saskatoon, Sask., and Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C. Williams’s wife, Buffy, was part of the women’s eight boat that qualified for the finals yesterday. Also today, both the women's and men's pairs qualified for the finals. The women's pair, silver medallists at last year's Worlds and gold medallists at the Lucerne World Cup, were third in their semi and will row Saturday for a chance at another medal.
"There was about two seconds separating the top five boats overall (from both semi races) - so it's really exciting," said women’s coach Al Morrow. The pair - Jacqui Cook of Burlington, Ont. and Karen Clark of Delta, B.C. - also helped Canada's women's eight qualify for the finals yesterday. "I was really impressed with their ability to row after coming back from rowing in the eight yesterday. They are very smart racers."
The men's pair, who raced against perennial championships James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent of Great Britain, will also get a chance to medal this week. Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. and Wayne Pommen of Victoria were second to the British in 6:34.83. Frandsen and Pommen both attend university in Britain.
In a real nail-biter, the Canadian lightweight women's double were in fourth position for most of today’s race, but moved ahead of the British near the finish line to make it to the finals.
"We had a good race yesterday (in the repechage), but we knew we had to go harder and we did," said Mara Jones of Aurora, Ont., who rows with Victoria's Shona McLaren. "We were down and in the last five (500 metres) we just gave her. I knew the British double was within reach, and I could feel our boat moving in the last 250." Canada's time was 7:04.75.
The lightweight men's four of Gavin Hassett of Victoria, Jon Mandick of Victoria, Jon Beare of Toronto, Ont. and Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que. also moves to the finals after re-gaining some of its world-class form and finishing in a close third in its semi-final race to advance. Ireland won the semi in 6:00.82, followed closely by the Netherlands (6:01.29) and Canada in 6:02.63.
Canada's lightweight women's single, a non-Olympic event, was a convincing first in her race today. Fiona Milne of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. finished in 7:41.65, almost seven seconds ahead of the Croatian. Milne was also a double medallist at this summer's Pan Am Games.
The lightweight men’s double of Jeff Bujas of Grimsby, Ont. and Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. was sixth in their race and will not advance to the medal rounds.
In Canada's final race of today, the women's double - Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B. and Anna-Marie deZwager of Victoria, finished first in their C final - to place 13th overall.