GIFU, Japan - Four U.S. crews will race for spots in the finals on Thursday at the 2005 FISA World Rowing Championships on the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course in Gifu, Japan. In addition, the U.S. will have three other boast in action as well.
Michelle Guerette (Bristol, Conn.) finished second in her heat of the women's single sculls on Monday in order to advance to the semifinals. Guerette now will face scullers from the Czech Republic, France, South Africa, Great Britain and Serbia and Montenegro in the first of two semifinals. Guerette drew two heat winners in her semifinal, Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic and Sophie Balmary of France. The top three finishers will advance to Saturday's final, while the remaining scullers will race in the B final for places 7-12.
The men's double sculls tandem of Sam Stitt (McLean, Va.) and J. Sloan DuRoss (South Portland, Maine) finished second in its repechage on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals. The duo will race in the second of two semis against crews from Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary and the Ukraine. The top three finishers will advance to Saturday's final, while the remaining scullers will race in the B final.
The men's four of Bryan Volpenhein (Cincinnati, Ohio), Beau Hoopman (Plymouth, Wis.), Dan Beery (Oaktown, Ind.) and Matt Deakin (San Francisco, Calif.) won its heat on Monday to advance to the semifinals. On Thursday, the quartet will take on the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the Czech Republic in the first of two semifinals. The top three finishers will advance to Saturday's final, while the remaining scullers will race in the B final. The four men have already qualified for the final of the men's eight.
Lightweight women's single sculler Marika Page (San Rafael, Calif.) finished second in her repechage on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals. Page will take on scullers from the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Croatia and Austria in the second of two semifinals. The top three finishers will advance to Saturday's final, while the remaining scullers will race in the B final.
In other races involving U.S. crews, the men's pair with coxswain will get its first race action of the championships in a seeding final. The crew of coxswain Chase Phillips (Woodbridge, Va.), Micah Boyd (St. Paul, Minn.) and Jordan Smith (Forestville, Calif.) will take on Italy and Australia in a race for lane assignments. The final is scheduled for Saturday morning.
Men's single sculler Wyatt Allen (Portland, Maine) will race in a C/D semifinal, which will determine if he will race in the C final for places 13-18 or the D final for places 19-24. Allen will face scullers from Latvia, Hungary, France and Morocco, with the top three finishers moving on to the C final.
Likewise, the men's pair of Patrick O'Dunne (Nazareth, Pa.) and Matt Schnobrich (St. Paul, Minn.) will race in a C/D semifinal on Thursday. The pair takes on Lithuania, Singapore and the Philippines, with the top two three finishers heading to the C final.
In total, the U.S. has 21 crews competing at the world championships. Semifinals continue on Friday, with finals taking place on Saturday and Sunday.