Davison Wins Heat, Three Additional Crews Advance on Sunday at the 2022 World Rowing Championships

Ben Davison (Inverness, Fla./University of Washington/California Rowing Club) won his heat of the men's single sculls, while three other U.S. boats advanced to the next round of racing on Sunday at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.

In addition to Davison advancing to the quarterfinals, the men's pair moved directly to the semifinals, while the lightweight men's double sculls and men's double sculls also advanced to the quarterfinals.

Davison dominated his heat of the men's single sculls to advance to Wednesday's quarterfinals. Racing in the sixth and final heat, Davison took the lead over Hungary's Bendeguz Petervari-Molnar about 750 meters into the race and continued to pull away from the rest of the scullers over the next 750 meters, separating from the field by a length of open water heading into the final quarter of the race. At the line, Davison cruised to an easy victory, crossing in a 6:54.02, more than five seconds ahead of Denmark's Bastian Secher. With three to advance to the quarterfinals, Secher and Petervari-Molnar also advanced.

"It was a bit bouncy, but it was fast conditions," Davison said. "It seemed like a nice tailwind at the start and then it picks up as you go down – gets bumpier and bumpier, so handling that was a bit tricky. But overall, it was good. I row in the Estuary in Oakland, so this is a nice day. I just wanted to – especially the first half of the race – get an idea of where I am at. I haven't raced since the world cup. I'm constantly evolving and changing things, so I just wanted to get a sense of how it felt. Pretty happy with it.

"I'm still learning as I go. I spent a bit of time in (the single) as a junior and under 23, but that's a whole different ballgame compared to this. We're still learning as we go. I enjoy it. I love it. I love the eight, too, but I love this for different reasons. I'm here to race; I love to race. I mean, I'm glad I'm not in the rep, but I'm happy to have a couple of races because that's what I came all this way for."

Racing in the first of four heats of the men's pair, Justin Best (Kennett Square, Pa./Drexel University/California Rowing Club) and Michael Grady (Pittsburgh, Pa./Cornell University/California Rowing Club) advanced to the semifinals thanks to a second-place finish. Romania's Marius Cozmiuc and Sergiu Bejan, who won the European championship last month, took a slight advantage on Best and Grady in the opening 500 meters, with Austria and Croatia just behind. The top two crews began to gain some separation in the second 500 and had established control of the two qualification spots by the midway point. Romania pushed its lead to about a length during the third quarter of the race, with the U.S. holding a length on third-place Austria. While Austria and Croatia tried to push back on the Americans over the second half of the race, Best and Grady were able to maintain their lead and move on to the semifinals. Romania won with a time of 6:27.74, with the U.S. finishing in a 6:31.49. Croatia finished just over three seconds behind the Americans.

"It's exactly what it was – just a step to the next race," Best said. "We have our eyes set on Thursday now. We came here, and we had high expectations of ourselves. The water is a little tough to deal with, so we are going to have to re-evaluate in the next couple of days because you never know what the conditions are going to be like on the semifinal day. Overall, I was happy with the way we remained calm. We had a few tough moments, but I think both of us picked what we wanted to stick too, staying horizontal and just being relaxed and letting the boat do the work."

With just one to advance to the semifinals, Kara Kohler (Clayton, Calif./University of California, Berkeley/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) finished second in her heat of the women's single sculls and now will race in tomorrow's repechages. Kohler, a bronze medal medalist in the event at the 2019 World Rowing Championships, got off the start in fifth position before slowly moving through the field. Kohler was able to clock the fastest second 1,000 meters to pass Serbia's Jovana Arsic over the back half of the race. With only one to advance to the semifinals, The Netherlands' Karolien Florijn, who has yet to lose a race this year, led from start to finish, clocking a 7:31.82. Kohler crossed the finish line in a 7:35.17.

"I really liked my second half," Kohler said. "The first half got a little rough, trying to manage that ripping tailwind. Still trying to work on my start. If I could just get off (the start) a little more effectively, it would be great. The goal was obviously to win today, but I don't think a repechage will set me back at all. I've got another chance to get into a 2k rhythm. It's been a while since I've raced in the single on a 2k course, so it's another chance to sharpen things up."

With four to advance to the quarterfinals, the lightweight men's double sculls crew of Jasper Liu (Phoenix, Ariz./University of Pennsylvania/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) and Zachary Heese (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) chased down Turkey in the final 500 meters of its race to grab a qualification spot. Rowing in the first of five heats, Heese and Liu sat in fifth position into the final 500 meters, but the U.S. duo was methodically closing the gap over the second half of the race and overtook Turkey for the fourth and final qualification spot with about 300 meters to go. Liu and Heese clocked a 6:28.03. Italy grabbed the early lead and held about a boat-length on the field 600 meters into the race. The Italians then held off a late charge by Portugal to win in a 6:19.96. Portugal finished 0.22 seconds behind in a 6:20.18. Denmark earned the other qualification spot.

In the men's double sculls, Sorin Koszyk (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Cornell University/California Rowing Club) and Thomas Phifer (New York, N.Y./Middlebury College/Penn Athletic Club) moved on to the quarterfinals thanks to a fourth-place finish in the fourth of five heats. Koszyk and Phifer got off the line in fifth place before passing China in the second 500 meters to grab a qualification spot. Croatia's Martin and Valent Sinkovic won the race in a 6:12.76, finishing nearly four seconds ahead of Romania. The Czech Republic earned the other qualification spot. The Americans crossed the line in a 6:32.59.

Racing in the fourth of four heats of the lightweight women's single sculls, Mary Jones Nabel (Huntsville, Ala./University of Tennessee/Cambridge Boat Club) finished fourth and now will race in Tuesday's repechages. With only one to advance to the semifinals, Great Britain's Maddie Arlett led off the start before Italy's Stefania Buttignon took over the top position just after the halfway point. Buttignon pulled away from the rest of the field in the third 500 meters and crossed the finish line more than seven seconds ahead of Arlett, finishing with a time of 7:38.99. Jones Nabel sat in third position during the middle 1,000 meters before dropping to fourth in the final stretch.

Racing in the first of four heats in the lightweight men's single sculls, Jimmy McCullough (Philadelphia, Pa./University of Delaware/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) finished fifth and now will race in tomorrow's repechages. With four to advance to the quarterfinals, McCullough got off the line in sixth position and was unable to work his way back into contention for a qualification spot. Switzerland's Andri Struzina led the race from start to finish, clocking a 7:00.27 to win the race by 3.25 seconds ahead of Great Britain's Dale Flockhart.

Eight U.S. crews will race their heats on Monday.

Tokyo 2020 Olympians Madeleine Wanamaker (Neenah, Wis./University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) and Claire Collins (McLean, Va./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) will be doubling up in the pair and eight in Racice. On Monday, the duo will race in the second of three heats of the women's pair against crews from Romania, Croatia, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Wanamaker and Collins won a silver medal at the World Rowing Cup race in Poznan, Poland. Romania's Ioana Vrinceanu and Denisa Tilvescu won the European championship last month. The top three finishers in the heat advance directly to the semifinals.

Molly Reckford (Short Hills, N.J./Dartmouth College/Sarasota Crew) and Michelle Sechser (Folsom, Calif./University of Tulsa/Cambridge Boat Club) finished fifth in the lightweight double sculls at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, missing a medal by a deck. In Poznan, the duo won the gold medal and have their eyes set on the medal stand here in Racice. Reckford and Sechser will race Japan, Spain, Greece, Norway, and Australia in the second of four heats, with only the winner moving directly to the semifinals.

In the women's double sculls, Kristi Wagner (Weston, Mass./Yale University/ARION) and Sophia Vitas (Franklin, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) will race against Norway, Germany, Cuba, The Netherlands, and the Czech Republic in the second of three heats, with the top two finishers earning spots in the semifinals. Vitas won a bronze medal with Kara Kohler in the event at the second World Rowing Cup in Poznan, while Wagner was part of the U.S. double at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The Dutch duo of Roos de Jong and Laila Youssifou finished second to Romania at last month's European Rowing Championships.

The U.S. has won silver in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain for seven consecutive years in Paralympic and world championship competition but will feature an entirely new lineup in 2022. The crew of Molly Moore (Indianapolis, Ind./Harvard University/Community Rowing, Inc.), Alex Flynn (Wilmington, Mass./Tufts University), Andrew Wigren (Providence, R.I./Hobart College), Saige Harper (Easthampton, Mass./Sacred Heart University), and coxswain Emilie Eldracher (Andover, Mass./Massachusetts Institute of Technology) will take on Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain in the first of two heats. Great Britain is riding an 11-year unbeaten streak. The top two finishers will advance directly to the final.

The women's four of Vicky Opitz (Middleton, Wis./University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Teal Cohen (Dallas, Texas/University of Washington), Erin Boxberger (Shady Shores, Texas/University of Notre Dame/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), and Allyson Baker (North Royalton, Ohio/The Ohio State University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) will face off against Denmark, France, Great Britain, and The Netherlands in the first of three heats, with the top three moving on to the semifinals. The Netherlands won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last year, while Great Britain won this year's European championship.

In the men's four, Henry Hollingsworth (Dover, Mass./Brown University/California Rowing Club), Nick Mead (Strafford, Pa./Princeton University/New York Athletic Club), Gus Rodriguez (Rye, N.Y./Brown University/California Rowing Club, and Rhett Burns (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Northeastern University) will race in the fourth of four heats, with the top two advancing to the semifinals. The U.S. crew will take on boats from Switzerland, Australia, and Austria. The Australian boat returns three of four members from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal crew.

The women's quadruple sculls crew of Maggie Fellows (Warwick, Mass./St. Lawrence University/Boston Rowing Federation), Savannah Brija (Lemont, Ill./Ithaca College/ARION), Emily Delleman (Davenport, Iowa/Stanford University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), and Emily Kallfelz (Jamestown, R.I./Princeton University/Cambridge Boat Club) will take on Great Britain, New Zealand, and Switzerland in the third of three heats, with the top three advancing to the semifinals. Great Britain won last month's European championship.

The men's quadruple sculls crew of Jacob Plihal (Vashon Island, Wash./Northeastern University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Jonathan Kirkegaard (Philadelphia, Pa./Purdue University/Texas Rowing Center High Performance), Kevin Cardno (Huntsville, Ala./University of Alabama, Huntsville/Texas Rowing Center High Performance), and Dominique Williams (Madison, Conn./University of Pennsylvania/Vesper Boat Club) reached the final at the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta before falling to China. The quartet will take on crews from Lithuania, Estonia, The Netherlands, Italy, and Indonesia in the first of three heats, with the top two advancing directly to the semifinals. The Netherlands is the defending Olympic champion, while Italy won the European championship.

In addition, six U.S. boats will row their preliminary race for lanes on Monday.

After racing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the PR2 mixed double sculls, Russell Gernaat (Redwood City, Calif./Lake Casitas Rowing Club) will race in the PR2 men's single sculls event this year. Gernaat will take on scullers from Germany, Spain, Uzbekistan, and The Netherlands in the race for lanes. Italy's Gian Filippo Mirabile took third in the event at World Rowing Cup II in Poznan, Poland.

Jennifer Fitz-Roy (Glen Ridge, N.J./Boston College/Community Rowing, Inc.) will be making her national team debut on Monday in the PR2 women's single sculls. Fitz-Roy will race scullers from Australia, Ireland, and Ukraine. Ireland's Katie O'Brien won the event at the world cup race in Poznan.

Pearl Outlaw (Charlottesville, Va./Ithaca College/Portland Boat Club) and Todd Vogt (Rochester, N.Y. /Portland Boat Club) dominated their competition in the PR3 mixed double sculls at the 2022 Gavirate International Para Rowing Regatta earlier this summer. The crew will take on Israel, Brazil, France, Austria, and Ukraine in the race for lanes in Racice.

In the lightweight men's pair, Harrison Tsavaris (Pelham Manor, N.Y./Fordham University/New York Athletic Club) and Justin Stevens (Knoxville, Tenn./Vanderbilt University/New York Athletic Club) are making their national team debuts. The duo will take on boats from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Egypt, and Turkey in the preliminary race.

In the lightweight men's quadruple sculls, the crew of Mats Terwiesch (Wynnewood, Pa./Bates College/Riverside Boat Club), Ashton Knight (Weston, Mass./Tufts University/Riverside Boat Club), Ian Richardson (Amesbury, Mass./University of Connecticut/Riverside Boat Club), and Sean Richardson (Beverly, Mass./University of Massachusetts/Riverside Boat Club) will be making its Team USA debut. The crew will take on boats from China, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Italy defeated Germany at last month's European championship to win the gold medal.

Injuries forced two lineup changes in the lightweight women's quadruple sculls. Sarah Maietta (Wayland, Mass./Boston University) and Grace D'Souza (Milwaukee, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Rowing Club/Whitemarsh Boat Club) have replaced injured Sophia Luwis (McLean, Va./The College of William & Mary/Whitemarsh Boat Club) and Audrey Boersen (West Olive, Mich./Grand Valley State University/Whitemarsh Boat Club) in the lineup. They join Elizabeth Martin (Lexington, Mass./Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Riverside Boat Club/ Whitemarsh Boat Club) and Cara Stawicki (Wall, N.J./Lehigh University/Whitemarsh Boat Club). With only two crews entered in the event, the U.S. boat will race against Italy in the preliminary race on Monday.

Heats and repechages will continue on Tuesday, with quarterfinals taking place on Wednesday. Semifinals get underway on Thursday, while the medal races will take place starting on Friday. More than 900 athletes from 65 countries are scheduled to compete in the eight-day regatta. The U.S. has entered the most boats with 25, followed by Italy with 23.

Click here for USRowing's daily coverage of the 2022 World Rowing Championships. Click here for USRowing's photo galleries. Click here for the official schedule, heat sheets, and results on worldrowing.com.

USRowing would like to thank Filippi Lido, the Official Boat Supplier for the U.S. Senior, Under 23, and Para Rowing National Teams. Under the agreement, Filippi is providing USRowing a fleet of boats for international competitions including the World Rowing Cup regattas, World Rowing Under 23 Championships, World Rowing Championships, Olympic Games, and Paralympic Games, as well as a domestic training fleet for the USRowing Training Center.