Lightweight Women’s Double, Women’s Pair Win Medals on Saturday at the 2022 World Rowing Championships

we're both really proud of. We know that there is still work to do and that's also exciting."

Reckford and Sechser sat about a length behind Craig and Grant, the fourth-place finishers in Tokyo, and a length ahead of France and Ireland through the 1,500-meter mark. During the final 500 meters, Craig and Grant gained a little more separation from the American crew, while Reckford and Sechser crossed the line with a little bit of open water ahead of the third-place Irish boat of Aoife Casey and Margaret Cremen, who were eighth in Tokyo. Great Britain won the gold medal in a 6:54.78, with the Americans taking silver in a 6:57.92. Ireland won the bronze medal in a 7:00.62, ahead of France's Laura Tarantola and Claire Bove, who won silver in Tokyo.

Reckford and Sechser were excited to get another chance to test their speed against several of the lineups they faced in Tokyo, including three of the four crews that finished ahead of them in the Olympic final.

"We wanted the chance to go up against the fastest in the world from the women who beat us in Tokyo," Sechser said. "We did and they showed us their speed and that's part of the sport. We are much faster than we were in our Tokyo Olympic final, I think, but we still have some room to go. It feels like a good place to be. (We're) already hungry to try to improve some areas, but I am immensely proud of being able to come away from last year and feel excited and confident to build and to see a little bit of that come together today."

The U.S. last won a medal in the lightweight women's double sculls at the 2018 World Rowing Championships.

The women's pair of 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 eight, won the bronze medal, finishing a half-length in front of Romania for third. The U.S. got out with the leaders in their start sequence and sat in third position at the 500-meter mark, just a second back of the leading crew from Great Britain and the defending Olympic champions from New Zealand. The Kiwi crew of Grace Prendergast and Kerri Williams took over the lead in the second quarter of the race, with the British boat of Emily Ford and Esme Booth still holding second. However, Collins and Wanamaker, who were part of the women's four at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, quickly overtook the Brits just after the midway point, with The Netherlands also moving into a medal position.

"We got off the line pretty well," Wanamaker said. "We had GB pushing out to a fast start, and we just pushed off them the whole time. (We) took a move around the 1,000, which was our plan, and I think we had our best sprint of the regatta and came away with a medal, which is incredible."

As the crews hit the last quarter of the race, the Dutch boat pulled ahead of the Americans into silver-medal position. Romania's Ioana Vrinceanu and Denisa Tilvescu, the reigning European champions, tried to challenge the U.S. boat, but Collins and Wanamaker shut the door to the medal stand. New Zealand won gold in a 7:03.76, with The Netherlands finishing second in a 7:06.02. The U.S. took the bronze medal in a 7:08.03.

"It's amazing, especially after our Tokyo debacle being in the B final," Wanamaker said of winning a medal. "It was great to just make this final to begin with and to come away with a medal is just icing on the cake. To be up here with Olympic medalists is great, and hopefully, it is a good start for the quad, and we can keep going."

Having qualified for the U.S. team in the pair at the World Rowing Cup in Poznan, Wanamaker and Collins had been studying the speed of the other crews throughout the year including through their races earlier this week.

"We kind of elevated our expectations for ourselves," Wanamaker said. "We knew that we could be up there with the fastest crews, so it was less of a surprise when we were up there and more of an expectation."

The U.S. last won a medal in the women's pair at the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

The PR3 mixed four with coxswain 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) finished fifth in its final. Great Britain, which has won 11 consecutive Olympic and world titles in the event, took the lead off the start and held about a length over Germany at the 500-meter mark. The British crew built that to more than two lengths in the second 500 meters and continued to extend its lead over the second half of the race, winning by more than 18 seconds. Great Britain clocked a 6:48.34 to win the gold medal. Italy took the silver medal in a 7:06.94, with France winning the bronze medal in a 7:11.41. The American boat finished in a 7:25.70.

In the men's pair, Justin Best (Kennett Square, Pa./Drexel University/California Rowing Club) and Michael Grady (Pittsburgh, Pa./Cornell University/California Rowing Club) won the B final to place seventh overall. Lithuania's Dovydas and Domantas Stankunas jumped out to the quick lead off the start but held just a 0.13-second advantage on the U.S. and Italy at the 500-meter mark. Best and Grady moved into the lead during the second quarter of the race before Italy's Davide Comini and Giovanni Codato put their bowball ahead as the boats entered the final 500 meters. However, the American boat met the Italian's challenge and retook the lead with about 300 meters to go and won the sprint to the finish. At the line, Best and Grady finished about a length ahead of Italy, finishing with a time of 6:30.59. Italy finished second. It was the best U.S. finish in the event since 2014.

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 ninth overall thanks to a third-place finish in the B final. Lithuania took the lead on Italy in the opening 500 meters and continued to build its advantage through the 1,500-meter mark. After getting off the line in fourth, the American boat settled into third position behind Italy at the midway point. The U.S. crew cut into the Italians' lead during the back half of the race but crossed the line in third. While Italy cut a little off the gap in the final 500 meters, Lithuania won by nearly two seconds in a 6:31.40. The U.S. finished in a 6:34.25.

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 fourth in the B final for a 10th-place finish overall. In what was a tight, four-boat race the entire way down the course, the U.S. sat in second position behind the leaders from Poland into the final 500 meters. However, Germany and Ireland were charging hard towards the line and were able to pass both boats in the final sprint. Germany won the race in a 5:59.08, with Ireland finishing a bowball behind in a 5:59.16. Poland was another 0.4 seconds back in third, with the U.S. finishing fourth in a 6:00.87.

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 B final for a 12th-place finish overall. The crew got off the line in fifth before dropping back to sixth in the second quarter of the race. Denmark and France challenged each other for the top two positions before Denmark broke away in the third 500 meters. Denmark went on to win the race by three seconds over New Zealand, finishing in a 6:39.48. France dropped to fourth. The U.S. crossed the line in a 6:51.82.

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) won the C final to finish 13th overall. In what was a tight race throughout, the U.S. got off the line in sixth position and sat in fifth about a half-length behind the leading crew from Austria as the boats hit the midway point. The U.S. moved into second position with 500 meters to go, sitting about a deck-length behind Austria. Liu and Heese made an initial push with 400 meters to go, but the Austrians were able to hold their position. With about 200 meters to go, the American duo took the rate up again and were able to move by Austria to grab the victory. The U.S. clocked a 6:27.12 to win the race by a deck over Austria, who finished in a 6:27.70. Mexico finished third in a 6:28.42.

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) finished second in the C final for a 14th-place finish overall. The Czech Republic got off the line in first, just a few inches in front of the crew from Belgium with the Americans sitting in fifth. As the crews hit the halfway point, the Czech boat continued to hold the slimmest of margins over Belgium, with the U.S. a half-length back in third. Belgium moved into the lead in the third quarter of the race, with the U.S. moving past the host-country's boat. The Americans kept cutting into the Belgian lead over the final 250 meters, coming up just short at the line. Belgium was able to hold off the Americans by about a foot, finishing 0.31 seconds ahead in a 5:51.74. The U.S. finished with a time of 6:52.05. The Czech Republic finished third.

Three crews will be racing for medals on Sunday.

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) needed the entire 2,000 meters to advance to Sunday's final, chasing down Ukraine for third place in the second semifinal. The crew will take on The Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Romania, and Austria in the final. Romania and The Netherlands won the two semifinals.

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) advanced to the final thanks to a second-place finish in its repechage. The Americans will take on heat winners Great Britain and Canada, as well as The Netherlands, Australia, and Romania, in the final.

With only a six-boat field, the women's eight of Molly Bruggeman (Dayton, Ohio/University of Notre Dame/USRowing Training Center-Princeton/University of Minnesota), Kelsey Reelick (Brookfield, Conn./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Alina Hagstrom (Seattle, Wash./Oregon State University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Regina Salmons (Methuen, Mass./University of Pennsylvania/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Jessica Thoennes (Highlands Ranch, Colo./University of Washington/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Charlotte Buck (Nyack, N.Y./Columbia University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Madeleine Wanamaker (Neenah, Wis./University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Claire Collins (McLean, Va./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), and coxswain Hannah Broadland (Sacramento, Calif./San Diego State University/San Diego Rowing Club/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) won its preliminary race for lanes to claim the top seed in Sunday's final. The U.S. will race boats from Canada, Australia, The Netherlands, China, and Romania in the race for medals.

Four other boats will be racing in placement finals on Sunday.

In the men's single sculls, Ben Davison (Inverness, Fla./University of Washington/California Rowing Club) finished fifth in the second of two semifinals and now will race in the B final for places 7-12. Davison will race scullers from Japan, Australia, Denmark, Canada, and Poland on Sunday.

In the PR1 men's single sculls, Andrew Mangan (Buffalo, N.Y./Stanford University/West Side Rowing Club/Bair Island Aquatic Center) finished fifth in the first of two semifinals and now will race in the B final for overall places 7-11. Mangan will be up against scullers from Spain, Japan, Israel, and Mexico in the B final.

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) finished sixth in the first of two semifinals and will race in Sunday's B final for overall places 7-12. Koszyk and Phifer will take on Norway, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Canada.

Kara Kohler (Clayton, Calif./University of California, Berkeley/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) won her C/D semifinal in the women's single sculls by about a length of open water to advance to Sunday's C final for overall places 13-18. Kohler will race scullers from Norway, Slovenia, Ireland, Japan, and Canada in the C final.

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.