The Canadian men's eight began racing at the World Rowing Championships in Munich, Germany, with a decisive win in today's heat.
Canada won the heat in 5:34.27 with Australia also advancing to the semi-finals after finishing second in 5:35.71. They were followed by Great Britain, France and Italy.
"We're glad we've started to race because that's when it all comes together, especially in a big boat," said Olympic silver medalist (2004 men's four) Jake Wetzel, who started the 2007 season rowing in the men's double. "Training has been going well, but this is a special time that really forces cohesion. Today's race was important for us as a group, and it was positive to see that we controlled the heat the whole way, and we saw Australia row through Britain, so we now know what they can do."
The eight's members are Kyle Hamilton of Richmond, B.C., Adam Kreek of London, Ont., Dominic Seiterle of Victoria, B.C., Malcolm Howard of Victoria, B.C., Jake Wetzel of Saskatoon, Sask., Andrew Byrnes of Toronto, Ont., Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, BC, Kevin Light of Sidney, B.C., and Brian Price of Belleville, Ont., who is the boat's coxswain.
In another hotly contested event - the lightweight men's four - Canada also advanced, this time to the quarter finals.
The light four of Liam Parsons of Thunder Bay, Ont., Mike Lewis of Victoria, B.C., Jon Beare of Toronto, Ont., and Iain Brambell of Victoria, B.C., finished in 6:08.72, ahead of Poland and Denmark. Brambell and Beare are veterans of this event having both raced at the Sydney and Athens Olympics.
The lightweight women's double of Lindsay Jennerich of Victoria, B.C. and Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, N.S. - World Cup medalists this year in Linz and Lucerne - finished third, just missing out on going the semi-finals today Greece and Demark took the qualifying spots.
The women's eight also made its first appearance today, with the goal of obtaining one of five Olympic spots available in this event by the end of the regatta. The Canadian eight finished third in today's heat, behind Australia and the U.S.
"Today's race was a good starting point," said National Team veteran Buffy Williams, who has a bronze medal in the women's eight from the 2000 Olympics. "If you look at the all the results (from the heats), there's a lot that couldn't have been predicted today from looking at past races. The reps will be very close. I get goose bumps just thinking about it"
The eight consists of Heather Mandoli of Kelowna, B.C., Ashley Brzozowicz of Toronto, Ont., Kaylan Vander Schilden of Victoria, Sabrina Kolker of West Vancouver, B.C., Romina Stefancic of Victoria, Katie Reynolds of St. John, NB, Buffy Williams of St Catharines, Ont., Sarah Bonikowsky of Orangeville, Ont., and Lesley Thompson-Willie of London, Ont. (cox)
The men's and women's quads had solid performances today.
The women's quad was third in its heat in 6:37.61. Anna-Marie de Zwager of Victoria, B.C., Krista Guloien of Port Moody, BC., Janine Hanson of Winnipeg, MB, and Rachelle de Jong of Regina, Sask. finished just behind boats from Great Britain, who advances to the finals, and Germany who, like Canada, must also go into a repechage to advance.
Steve Van Knotsenburg of Beamsville, Ont., Jamie Faris of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Gabe Bergen of 100 Mile House, B.C., and Rob Weitemeyer of Coquitlam, BC were third in their quad heat in 6:07.22 and will row in a rep in order to advance.
"Estonia was a little faster than we thought," said Weitemeyer. "We were aggressive off the start, but could have been more efficient. We were in contact with the leaders, and we got a sense of the speed of the other crews."
In the lightweight men's double, Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que, and Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont. finished fourth in their heat and move to the quarter finals. Their time was 6:44.18.
John Sasi of North Delta, BC. and Terry McKall of Edmonton, AB., were sixth in the lightweight men's pair in 6:50.92, and will row in a rep.
Canada's top adaptive crews also raced today, and their results will be in a separate release.