Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls Wins Semi, Women’s Pair also Advances on Thursday at the 2022 World Rowing Championships

The U.S. lightweight women's double sculls won its semifinal, while the women's pair finished second in its semi, on Thursday at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic. The two crews will now race for medals on Saturday.

The lightweight women's double sculls duo of Molly Reckford (Short Hills, N.J./Dartmouth College/Sarasota Crew) and Michelle Sechser (Folsom, Calif./University of Tulsa/Cambridge Boat Club) won the second semifinal in dominant fashion to advance to Saturday's final. The U.S. duo, which finished fifth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, got off the line in second position, just behind France's Laura Tarantola and Claire Bove, the Olympic silver medalists. Reckford and Sechser made their move in the middle 1,000 meters, rowing through the French crew to gain more than a length lead heading into the final 500 meters. At the line, it was the Americans crossing in a 7:01.03 to finish more than three seconds ahead of the French crew. Switzerland's Patricia Merz and Frederique Rol held off the reigning Olympic champions from Italy, Valentina Rodini and Federica Cesarini, to take the third qualifying spot.

"I felt more nerves today," Reckford said. "This is the race where everyone is going for it because without this race, you don't get a chance at the medals. I was definitely trying to stay calm in that first half. I was just so thankful that when I called 'Go,' I knew Michelle was going to go. I know she was laying down a great rhythm, and it was one we could both work in and then it was just a charge to the line and a charge for the chance at that A final. I'm really pleased with how we did."

Reckford and Sechser will take on crews from France, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, and Greece in the final. The British crew of Emily Craig and Imogen Grant, who finished fourth in Tokyo, won the other semifinal in a 6:58.67. With four of the top five crews from Tokyo back racing this week, it's a chance for the U.S. boat to test itself once again against the cream of the crop.

"I think it took Molly and I, and probably a lot of people who were in that final, some time to really look back on it with pride and gratitude," Sechser said. "It's really fun to have now moved passed those emotions and have the opportunity to have what feels almost like a mulligan. To get to race these fantastic crews – the gold standard of the lightweight women's double – I'm so glad that all of these combinations are intact. The Irish, GB, France, Italy, us; you don't get second chance is rowing, and that's why we love it, but somehow this feels like a little bit of a second chance."

Madeleine Wanamaker (Neenah, Wis./University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) and Claire Collins (McLean, Va./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), who are doubling up in the pair and eight, finished second in their semifinal of the women's pair to advance to Saturday's final.

"I think it was good, another step," Collins said. "We had things we wanted to work on from the heat and made little improvements. Really, we were just trying to get the job done today and make sure we were using our energy wisely this week with all the races. It was a successful (race)."

Wanamaker and Collins grabbed the second position in the first 500 meters, as New Zealand's Olympic champions, Grace Prendergast and Kerri Williams, took the lead. During the second 500, the Kiwis built their advantage to about a length, with the U.S. moving away from Great Britain. Over the back half of the race, New Zealand comfortably held the U.S. at about a length, while the Americans held a similar margin on the British crew. At the line, Prendergast and Williams clocked a 7:11.02, with Wanamaker and Collins finishing in a 7:15.09. Great Britain's Emily Ford and Esme Booth finished third. Those three crews will take on Romania, The Netherlands, and Croatia in the final.

"Our goal was to go out and stay with everyone to the 1,000 (meter mark) and then attack through the middle, so it went pretty much according to plan," Wanamaker said. "It's great to be around the same time as the Olympic champions, so I think it is a good confidence boost. We'll tune it up for the final."

Racing with a medical substitution, the women's quadruple sculls crew of Maggie Fellows (Warwick, Mass./St. Lawrence University/Boston Rowing Federation), Grace Joyce (Northfield, Ill./University of Wisconsin/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Emily Delleman (Davenport, Iowa/Stanford University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), and Emily Kallfelz (Jamestown, R.I./Princeton University/Cambridge Boat Club) finished fourth in the second of two semifinals and will now race in tomorrow's B final for overall places 7-12. After getting off the line in fifth, the U.S. sat in fourth place, just behind Australia, as the crews hit the midway point. However, the Aussies upped their power in the third quarter of the race and began to track down The Netherlands for second place and pull away from the U.S. boat. At the line, Great Britain had gone wire-to-wire to win in a 6:29.60. Australia caught The Netherlands at the line to take second by 0.24 seconds, finishing in a 6:32.11. The U.S. clocked a 6:38.80 and will face Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and New Zealand in the B final.

Lightweight women's single sculler Mary Jones Nabel (Huntsville, Ala./University of Tennessee/Cambridge Boat Club) finished fourth in her semifinal and now will race in the B final for overall places 7-12. Racing in the second semi, Jones Nabel got off the line in sixth place but worked her way back into contention for a qualification spot in the second 500 meters. The American battled Italy's Stefania Buttignon for third position through the middle of the race before Buttignon was able to pull away with about 700 meters to go. New Zealand's Jackie Kiddle rowed at the head of the field, keeping Greece's Zoi Fitsiou at bay. Kiddle clocked a 7:45.29 to finish less than two seconds ahead of Fitsiou. Jones Nabel crossed the line with a time of 7:55.89 and will now race scullers from Spain, Tunisia, Mexico, Iran, and Ireland in tomorrow's B final.

Racing in the second semifinal 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) finished fifth and now will race in the B final for overall places 7-12. Best and Grady got off the line well and settled into third position, just ahead of Lithuania during the first half of the race. However, Serbia made a huge push just as the crews were approaching the midway point of the race and built on that momentum during the third 500 meters, taking command of the final qualification spot. Meanwhile, Spain held a small margin over Australia the entire way down the course, finishing 1.31 seconds ahead in a 6:30.84. Australia finished second in a 6:32.15, with Serbia taking third in a 6:34.84. Best and Grady crossed the line in a 6:44.55. The U.S. will take on Lithuania, Austria, South Africa, Poland, and Italy in the B final.

The men's four of 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) finished fifth in its semifinal and now will race in Saturday's B final for overall places 7-12. The U.S. got off the line in fifth and could never get on terms with the top three crews and a qualifying spot. Romania took the lead off the start before The Netherlands moved into the top position at the midway point of the race. The Dutch continued to hold a narrow margin as the crews entered the final few strokes. Romania tried to overtake the Dutch boat at the line but came up just short. The Netherlands clocked a 6:02.96, with Romania finishing 0.10 seconds back in a 6:03.06. Switzerland tracked down Ireland to finish third in a 6:05.55. The U.S. boat crossed the line in a 6:09.33 and will race against Ireland, France, South Africa, Germany, and Poland in the B 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) finished sixth in the first of two semifinals. The U.S. boat dropped to sixth off the line and was never able to contend for a top-three position and a spot in the final. Great Britain led from start to finish, defeating Ireland by nearly two seconds. The British boat clocked a 6:38.89, with Ireland finishing second in a 6:40.85. China claimed the other spot in the final. The U.S. will race New Zealand, Italy, Denmark, Poland, and France.

Kara Kohler (Clayton, Calif./University of California, Berkeley/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) won her C/D semifinal by about a length of open water to advance to Sunday's C final for overall places 13-18. Kohler took the lead off the start and had built nearly a five-second advantage on Norway's Siri Eva Kristiansen by the midway point of the race. Kohler finished with a time of 7:57.09 to win by 3.91 seconds. Kohler will face Kristiansen and scullers from Slovenia, Ireland, Japan, and Canada in the C final.

In the lightweight men's single sculls, Jimmy McCullough (Philadelphia, Pa./University of Delaware/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) came back to finish third in his C/D semifinal to advance to tomorrow's C final for places 13-18. Poland's Lukasz Sawicki took the early lead on Germany's Finn Wolter before Iraq's Mohammed Al-Khafaji moved into second place as the boats hit the 1,000-meter mark. Al-Khafaji continued to track down Sawicki through the third quarter of the race and pulled even with the Polish sculler in the final 300 meters, eventually breaking through. While Al-Khafaji and Sawicki were battling it out, Wolter and McCullough were making their charge as well, overtaking Poland's sculler in the final 10 strokes. Al-Khafaji won the race in a 7:27.04, with Wolter finishing just 0.11 seconds behind. McCullough clocked a 7:27.83 to claim third. McCullogh will race Al-Khafaji, Wolter, and scullers from Iran, Norway, and Austria in the C final.

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) finished third in the C/D semifinal to advance to Saturday's C final. The top three crews – the U.S., China, and Mexico – were virtually dead even coming through the 500-meter mark, with the U.S. and Mexico still nearly deadlocked at the midway point. The Mexican crew took a slight lead as the boats hit the final quarter of the race. Mexico began to inch away from the Americans as China began its sprint. At the line, it was China crossing in first in a 6:36.79, with Mexico finishing 0.60 seconds back. The U.S. finished with a time of 6:37.80. The three crews will face Austria, Australia, and Denmark in the C final.

The U.S. will have seven crews racing for medals on Friday.

In the PR2 men's single sculls, Russell Gernaat (Redwood City, Calif./Lake Casitas Rowing Club) finished third in his race for lanes behind The Netherlands' Cornelis de Koning and Italy's Gian Filippo Mirabile. Gernaat will race against de Koning, Mirabile, and scullers from Spain, Uzbekistan, and Germany in tomorrow's race for the medals.

Jennifer Fitz-Roy (Glen Ridge, N.J./Boston College/Community Rowing, Inc.) finished fourth in her race for lanes in the PR2 women's single sculls. She will take on scullers from Ireland, Australia, and Ukraine in the final. Australia's Kathryn Ross won the race for lanes, with Ireland's Katie O'Brien finishing second.

In the PR3 mixed double sculls, Pearl Outlaw (Charlottesville, Va./Ithaca College/Portland Boat Club) and Todd Vogt (Rochester, N.Y. /Portland Boat Club) finished fourth in their race for lanes. The duo will face off against crews from Israel, France, Brazil, Ukraine, and Austria in the medal race. Brazil won the race for lanes ahead of Ukraine.

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) finished sixth in their race for lanes. In the final, the U.S. will race against crews from Hungary, Italy, Turkey, Czech Republic, and Egypt. Turkey won the race for lanes.

The lightweight women's pair of Solveig Imsdahl (Eutin, Germany/Cornell University/Vesper Boat Club) and Elaine Tierney (West Chester, Pa./Temple University/Vesper Boat Club) finished second behind Italy in its race for lanes, just behind Italy's Maria Serboni and Samantha Premerl. The two crews will race against Germany and Brazil for the medals.

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) finished fifth in the race for lanes. The U.S. will take on boats from Germany, Italy, China, and Spain in the final.

The lightweight women's quadruple sculls crew of Grace D'Souza (Milwaukee, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Rowing Club/Whitemarsh Boat Club), Sarah Maietta (Wayland, Mass./Boston University), Cara Stawicki (Wall, N.J./Lehigh University/Whitemarsh Boat Club), and Elizabeth Martin (Lexington, Mass./Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Riverside Boat Club/ Whitemarsh Boat Club) finished second in its race for lanes behind Italy. The U.S. will get a second shot at the Italians in the two-boat final.

Four additional crews will be racing in semifinals on Friday.

In the PR1 men's single sculls, Andrew Mangan (Buffalo, N.Y./Stanford University/West Side Rowing Club/Bair Island Aquatic Center) finished third in his repechage to advance to Friday's semifinals. Mangan will be racing against scullers from Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Spain, and Japan in the first of two semifinals. Ukraine's Roman Polianskyi is the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion in the event. The top three finishers will move on to the final.

In the men's single sculls, Ben Davison (Inverness, Fla./University of Washington/California Rowing Club) advanced to Friday's semifinals thanks to a third-place finish in his quarterfinal. Davison will take on scullers from Japan, Great Britain, New Zealand, Germany, and Australia in the first of two semifinals. Great Britain's Graeme Thomas and New Zealand's Jordan Parry won their quarterfinals, while Germany's Oliver Zeidler is the reigning world champion in the event. Japan's Ryuta Arakawa finished just ahead of Davison in their quarterfinal.

The men's double sculls crew of Sorin Koszyk (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Cornell University/California Rowing Club) and Thomas Phifer (New York, N.Y./Middlebury College/Penn Athletic Club) advanced to Friday's semifinals thanks to a second-place finish in its quarterfinal. Koszyk and Phifer will race against Italy, Australia, Spain, Moldova, and the Czech Republic in the first of two semifinals. Spain and Australia won their quarterfinals and are the top seeds in the first semifinal. A top-three finish would put Koszyk and Phifer in the race for the medals.

The women's double sculls crew of Kristi Wagner (Weston, Mass./Yale University/ARION) and Sophia Vitas (Franklin, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) finished second in its heat to move directly to the semifinals. Wagner and Vitas will take on boats from China, Ukraine, Romania, Austria, and Switzerland in the second of two semifinals. Romania is the lone heat winner in the race, while Austria finished second in its heat. The top three crews will advance to the final.

After finishing third in its heat, the men's eight of Alex Karwoski (Moultonborough, N.H./Cornell University), Nick Rusher (West Bend, Wis./Yale University), Michael Clougher (Canton, Mass./Connecticut College/Penn Athletic Club), Liam Corrigan (Old Lyme, Conn./Harvard University/California Rowing Club), Michael Knippen (Germantown, Wis./University of Wisconsin/California Rowing Club), Andrew Gaard (Madison, Wis./University of Washington/California Rowing Club), Chris Carlson (Bedford, N.H./University of Washington/California Rowing Club), Pieter Quinton (Portland, Ore./Harvard University/California Rowing Club), and coxswain Jimmy Catalano (Greenwich Conn./University of Wisconsin) will race in the second of two repechages on Friday. The U.S. will take on China, The Netherlands, and Germany, with the top two crews moving on to Sunday's final.

Finals continue on Saturday and Sunday. More than 900 athletes from 65 countries are competing 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.