The 2011 World Rowing Championships began this past weekend in Bled, Slovenia, with numerous Vikes alumni representing Canada. With qualification to the 2012 London Olympics on the line, the Canadian boats did not disappoint. Day 1 of the championships saw three Canadian crews win heats and an additional two boats continue on to semifinals.
Former Vike Gabe Bergen (100 Mile House, B.C.) was among the men's eight crew that advanced to the semifinal on Saturday. Canada crossed the line first (5:29:83), followed by Netherlands (05:30:37) and the Ukraine in 05:32:75.
The lightweight men's four, including Vikes alumnus and 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic bronze medalist Mike Lewis (Victoria, B.C.), placed fifth in its heat (6:11:20) and will have to row in a rep to advance.
“This is the second most important regatta for us, next to the Olympics,” said Peter Cookson, Rowing Canada Aviron High Performance Director. “It's crucial for us to qualify here as that sets the tone of the work we do over the next year.”
On the second day of the championship, the Canadian women's eight won its heat in 6:07:20 to qualify directly for the A final. This boat is fighting a big comeback after finishing in fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The first-place finish beat out Romania, Netherlands and China, while the World and Olympic champions, the United States, went on to win their heat and also qualify for the final.
Women's eight member, two-time Olympian and Vikes alumna Darcy Marquardt (Richmond, B.C.) said, “It feels great. It's a confidence boost and a check in the box that we got the job done today. It's just one more step in the right direction for next year.”
Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee, both of Victoria B.C., took the early lead in the lightweight women's heat with nearly a boat length gap at the 500-metre mark. Belgium was able to close the distance and lay some pressure on the Canadian duo but Jennerich and Obee came through clearing the line first (7:04:16). Canada will be the sole country to move on to semi-final action out of this heat.
“It would have been nice to not have been rowed through in the third five (third 500 metres of 2000), but we were,” said Jennerich. “I think there was confidence in both of us that if we kept that row through to a minimum, like we did, we'd be okay. Obee and I together have exceptional sprint speed, and that sometimes causes us to be a bit lazy in the middle."
The lightweight men's pair of Morgan Jarvis (Winnipeg) and Vikes alumni Tim Myers (Penticton, B.C.) also finished second in the heat and move to the semifinal. Great Britain was first in 6:38:08, with the Canadian pair in 6:40.75.
On the third day of the championship, Canada had three crews racing in repechages today. The men's double qualified for the semi-final clocking in at 6:17:53 (over 2000m) for second place behind France (6:14:16).
Canada's lightweight men's four suffered a heartbreaker of a repechage race placing third in 05:57:75 behind first place South Africa (05:56:08) and second place Serbia (05:57:39). Only the top two boats from each rep move on to the semi-finals meaning Lewis and his teammates will miss out on 2012 Olympic qualifications. Only Lewis was apart of the bronze medal win at the Beijing Olympics in this highly competitive event.
The women's double also missed Olympic qualification. Although starting off strong, the Canadian side could only hold on for a third-place finish (07:04:75) behind the Czech Republic and Finland, who placed first and second, respectively.
Coach Jeff Powell commented, “The doubles approach and attitude for today's race was world class but the standard of the rowing here is high, and that's what we have to work on moving forward.”
Canadian crews will continue in action Wednesday with the men's coxed pair and men's four in reps; the men's lightweight double in a quarterfinal; the lightweight men's pair and women's pair in semis, and the men's eight also in a semi final.
The 2011 World Rowing Championships will continue in Bled, Slovenia until Sept. 4.
[FULL SCHEDULE & RESULTS]
