With the attention on the US women's team in Rio, and the observations of what the US collegiate system and Title IX have done to help the women's national team, there probably wasn't a better confirmation of both observations than the first U23 medal final today, when the USA U23 W4- absolutely clocked the field for a well-won gold.
The US crew of Sarah Dougherty, Regina Salmons, Gia Doonan and Kendall Brewer had almost 6 seconds on the field at 500m to go, and with the crew doubling into the eight tomorrow, they could afford to lengthen late in the race - tho' it did not appear they took their foot off the gas by too much pushing towards the line.
"We have a really good five hundred focus move to hit our base," stroke Sarah Dougherty said after the race. "We are very confident in our first 250, and regardless of what happens, we come together and focus in after the first five hundred meters to really crush our base speed."
Add to the win the fact that these athletes took to the technical sophistication of steering an uncoxed boat at speed, likely not familiar for most of them and no small challenge. It's a system that's working well. "We have a really strong team and the whole program has pushed us to this point," bowseat Kendall Brewer told WorldRowing.com after the race.
Oh, and a new world best time!
And that is a new U23 Best Time for the USA in the women's four of 6:27.28. #Rotterdam2016
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) August 25, 2016
That's a record for the US by almost eight seconds, whew. All told, the Willem-Alexander Baan was spitting out WBTs like a broken slot machine today, with four out of the eight events using the flat water and tailwind conditions to their bountiful advantage in setting new marks.
The US U23 M4- of Avery Reavill, Brooks Reavill, Cuyler Hamilton and Michael Colella hung on gamely in a bid for a second US medal, running in third for much of the race, but fell to a torrid sprint from New Zealand to take fourth.
The USA U23 W2- of Georgia Ratcliff and Kendall Chase, also 1/4 of the USA U23 W8+, took fourth today, but after their performance earlier this week, both athletes were probably counting on being a few spots higher. Both will get another shot at hardware tomorrow in the eight.
The all-UW U23 Men's Coxed Four of Samuel Pettet, Arne Landboe, Ezra Carlson, Sean Kelly and coxswain Rielly Milne kept it close early, but could not match the field across the body of the race, finishing sixth. The USA U23 LM2- of Jack Gleim and Kyle James also placed sixth in their event.
Check out lots of great athlete quotes in FISA's #megaworlds liveblog.
In the lower level finals, US crews raced with a mix of results. Ben Davison, racing in the U23 M1x, broke the 7:00 benchmark enroute to a win in the petite, finishing well clear of the field in 6:59, for 7th place. Emma Betuel raced in two nearly back-to-back petites today, finishing 10th overall in the U23 LW1x, then jumping into the U23 LW4x for second place in the petite, 8th overall.
The USA U23 LM4- also placed 8th, while the USA U23 men's eight finished fourth in the petite for 10th.
The Senior events had their A/B semis today, and it was a good day for US crews; the Men's Coxed Pair of Yohan Rigone, Tom Peszek and cox'n Lou Lombardi set the early pace in their semi, then conceded a late sprint by the GB to take second with the 2nd fastest overall time. The crew will race for medals on Saturday.
Likewise, US LW1x Mary Jones found herself in a tight battle with 500m to go, but buckled down and pulled into second place with 250 meters to go to seal her A-final spot.
The USA LM2- of Andy Weiland and Peter Gibson found themselves in the middle of an absolutely psycho finish as the pair had to go to the well starting at 1250m to keep their bowball ahead of a pesky Brazilian crew. Their fortitude paid off, and the crew moves on to Saturday's medal race.
A huge move from FRA coming into the last 500m. They lead the way. IRL holding on to 2nd followed by USA and BRA, last 50m #Rotterdam2016
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) August 25, 2016
It was a tough row today for US LM1x Colin Etheridge, who started well but faded to fifth in his semi to miss out on the A-final; Colin will row in the petite on Saturday.
Fastest time of the semis went to Ireland's Paul O'Donovan, who is on pace for his second piece of hardware this summer after taking silver at the Olympics with his brother; if the interviews are half as good here, it will be worth pulling (like a dog) for O'Donovan.
Next up... it's #PullLikeADog Paul O'Donovan from Ireland. Going through 1000m in 4th, but he wound it up into last 200m. #Rotterdam2016
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) August 25, 2016
Finally, in the one junior event with US implications today, all's well for the USA Junior Women's Quad, who took second in their rep to move on Saturday's semifinals.
In case you missed it yesterday; strange scene in the heats of the JM4x: Austria's bow seat took ill, and the Austrian team did not have a spare, so the crew decided to race the heats with only three rowers to make sure that the crew would "stay alive" and at least progress to the reps.
It actually worked out well; the three-man quad beat Georgia and progressed directly to Friday's quarterfinals; seatracing a Twinkie, anyone?
There are several homonymous crews racing in Rotterdam; there's China's Chen/Chen in the U23 LM2x, Li/Li in the LM2-, and Chile has Abraham/Abraham in the U23 W2-.
"World Rowing," indeed!
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