Five of Canada’s 11 crews began racing today at the 2002 FISA World Rowing Championships in Seville, Spain (Sept. 15 to 22) .
“It is the first day of an eight-day regatta – it’s early and the momentum will build over the week,” said Canadian head coach, Brian Richardson. “I was very pleased to see the women’s four begin the regatta with a win.”
The four - Pauline Van Roessel of Bow Island, Alta., Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C., Rachelle deJong of Regina, Sask., and Roslyn MacLeod of Burlington, Ont. - won this morning's heat. "We had a great start, one of the best we've ever had," said Darcy Marquardt. "We were not anticipating a lead, but we kept attacking and pushing away further."
Today's win allows the four, whose members will also race in the eight tomorrow, to move directly to the finals. The winning time was 6:49.64.
The women's lightweight single of Gen Meredith of Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Que. finished second in 8:10.97 to the Dutch sculler (8:04.08) in this morning’s heat and will row in a repechage race. It was Meredith’s first international race of the year. "I had no idea what to expect going into the race," said Meredith. "The rep will be a chance to go out and work on the weaknesses of today's race, mainly I was not aggressive enough at the start."
In a tight race with the South African pair, Canadians Jacqui Cook of Burlington, Ont. and Karen Clark of Delta, B.C. finished a close second in today's heat. South Africa's time was 7:09.56, with Canada in 7:09.78, followed by the Russians in third in 7:18.15. Cook and Clark, 2001 World bronze medallists in this event, will race in a repechage. The Canadians beat the South Africans earlier in the season at a World Cup race in Munich.
The men's pair of Scott Frandsen of Kelowna, B.C. and Cam Baerg of Saskatoon, Sask. finished third in their heat in 6:39.92. Australians Andrew Ginn and James Tomkins, winners at the Lucerne World Cup in this event, took the race in 6:33.12 with Yugoslavia in second in 6:37.20. The Canadian pair will race in a repechage.
The women's double of Buffy Williams of St. Catharines, Ont. and Kubet Weston of Tillsonburg, Ont. were third in the heat. Russia (6:52.11) and Italy (6:52.24) battled for top position, and Canada finished in third in 7:00.95. The Canadians will row in a repechage for a chance to make the finals.
"I'm very excited by today's racing - the women's crews had first, second and third finishes," said Al Morrow, Canadian women's head coach. "The four was very satisfying because they'll go directly to the finals.”
Yesterday, Jane Rumball of Fredericton, N.B. won the women’s singles race for team spares. Rumball is a spare for the Canadian women’s team.
Tomorrow, the Canadian men’s and women’s eights, as well as the lightweight men’s four – gold medallists in the World Cup race in Lucerne this year – and the lightweight men’s and women’s doubles and the lightweight men’s pair will make their first impressions at the Worlds.
A total of 932 rowers representing 53 nations are competing in 24 different boat classes at the 2002 FISA World Rowing Championships that are held on the Guadalquivir river in the heart of the Andalusian capital of Seville. The high quality line-up includes almost 50 Sydney Olympic medallists as well as 48 2001 World Rowing Champions. The entries also include all 14 2001 World Cup champions entered in their respective boat classes looking to confirm their successful seasons by earning the title of world champion.
Canadian Results (in order of racing) - Sept. 15/02 FISA World Rowing Championships - Seville, Spain
Women's four 1. CAN 06:49.64 2. CHN 06:53.36 3. USA 06:54.28 4. ROM 07:09.68
Women's lightweight single 1. NED 08:04.08 2. CAN 08:10.97 3. SUI 08:22.34 4. SWE 08:32.53 5. MEX 08:43.87
Women's pair 1. RSA 07:09.56 2. CAN 07:09.78 3. RUS 07:18.15 4. FRA 07:23.24 5. CHN 07:37.34
Men's pair 1. AUS 06:33.12 2. YUG 06:37.20 3. CAN 06:39.92 4. BRA 06:43.94 5. EGY 06:44.01
Women's double 1. RUS 06:52.11 2. ITA 06:52.24 3. CAN 07:00.95 4. ROM 07:04.73 5. LTU 07:06.25 6. POL 07:09.55
Full results can be found at www.worldrowing.com
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