Three Crews Advance to Semifinals on Wednesday at the 2022 World Rowing Championships

The U.S. men's double sculls and men's single sculls advanced out of the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic. The two boats now will race in the semifinals on Friday. In addition, the PR1 men's single sculls advanced to the semifinals from today's repechages.

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) advanced to Friday's semifinals thanks to a second-place finish in the fourth of four quarterfinals.

"We're really happy; really, really excited," Phifer said. "It was an imperfect race, but all races are. We just kept our heads in the boat and raced against the competition. We knew we would have a little bit of a slower start against other crews, but we trusted our fitness and trusted our speed throughout the 2k, raced really aggressively in the second half, and it worked out for us. I couldn't be happier."

After getting off the line in fifth position, Koszyk and Phifer sat in fourth place for most of the race, just behind the Norwegian double. As Norway began to challenge Ireland for second place during the third 500 meters, the U.S. duo went with them and began to close the gap as well. In the final 250 meters, the three crews were basically rowing three across for the final two qualification spots behind France. At the line, it was the U.S. that pulled its bowball ahead to take second by 0.3 seconds. Norway caught Ireland for third, finishing just 0.03 seconds ahead of the Irish boat.

"I could sense that something was going on, but I didn't take a look – just kept the head down and the rate up," Phifer said.

France's Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champions, won the race in a 6:20.58. Koszyk and Phifer finished second in a 6:21.81, with Norway taking third in a 6:22.11.

"I'm just really happy to make it through to the semis," Koszyk said. "There weren't a ton of expectations for us going in, so I think we were able to just put down a good piece and enjoy the racing and do the best we could … Our goal was the B final this year, and we hit that today by getting to the A/B semis. The semifinals will be a lot of fun because we can just let loose and let it rip and not think about any pressure or expectations on the result."

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. Racing in the fourth of four quarterfinals, Davison, Japan's Ryuta Arakawa, and Norway's Kjetil Borch took the top three positions off the line, staking claim to the three qualification spots. Arakawa held the slight lead at the 500-meter mark and increased his advantage to about a half-length over Borch at the halfway point, with Davison a half-deck back. Arakawa continued to lead as the scullers hit the 1,500-meter mark, with Borch just a bowball in front of the American.

That's when Norway's reigning Olympic silver medalist made his push. Borch overtook Arakawa in the final 300 meters and crossed the line a little over a half-length ahead of the Japanese sculler. Davison took his rate down in the final 500 meters, finishing about three seconds behind Borch. Davison clocked a 6:56.28, two seconds ahead of China's Wei Han. Borch won the race in a 6:53.14, with Arakawa crossing in a 6:54.10.

"It was okay; It definitely wasn't my best race, but I knew what needed to be done to get through," Davison said. "I was happy enough with it in general, but I definitely have some things to work on for the semis. I could see (the gap with the rest of the field) open up early, and I race again in two days, so you need to be a little bit smart about it. I wanted to have at least the first 1,500 (meters) and then see where I was. I didn't feel like that was my best first 1,500, so overall just happy to be through (to the semis). Everyone is going to have to have their best race on Friday to make it through to the finals, so that's what I need to focus on for now."

In the PR1 men's single sculls, Andrew Mangan (Buffalo, N.Y./Stanford University/West Side Rowing Club/Bair Island Aquatic Center) overtook Poland's Arkadiusz Skrzypinski in the final 600 meters to finish third and move on to the semifinals. With three to advance, Uzbekistan's Egamberdiev Kholmurod and Japan's Takuya Mori took control of the top two qualification positions in the first 500 meters, while Skrzypinski and Mangan battled it out for the third qualifying spot. Skrzypinski held a 1.39-second advantage over Mangan at the 500-meter mark, but the American cut down most of that advantage in the second 500. Mangan continued to press the Polish sculler in the third quarter of the race, inching ahead as the boats hit the 1,500-meter mark. Mangan was able to keep Skrzypinski at bay over the final stretch, clocking a 10:27.26 to finish 0.75 seconds ahead. Kholmurod won the race in a 9:58.89, with Mori taking second in a 10:03.65.

"It was a good race," Mangan said. "Yesterday, we had a lot that we wanted to work on, mostly just getting longer, being more in control. I felt where I was at yesterday that there was more out there. It was definitely a fight to the end but ultimately it worked out. We're making a lot of rigging changes; honestly, there's a lot we're learning with each race – even this one – just about the type of stroke, about getting to where I can find length, but also maintain the high rate, high power. We're going to practice again tomorrow and review the race – look over the video – and see where I can find some more speed. I'm really excited for the semifinals. It's my first international (regatta); there's not really that many PR1s in the U.S., so it's awesome having a field of 17 to race against."

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) missed the semifinals by a bowball, finishing fourth in the third of four quarterfinals. France's Hugo Beurey and Ferdinand Ludwig took the lead off the start, with Ireland's Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan basically even with Spain's Caetano Horta Pombo and Manel Balastegui in second position and the Americans sitting two-tenths back in fourth. During the second 500, Ireland inched its bowball ahead of France, while the U.S. took a half-canvas lead on Spain for third. But Spain was able to keep pace with Liu and Heese, with the two crews crossing into the final quarter of the race basically even. Horta Pombo and Balastegui were able to keep their bowball just ahead of the Americans at the line, crossing 0.26 seconds in front for third. Ireland won the race in a 6:21.05, with France finishing in a 6:23.75. Spain crossed in a 6:24.81, with the U.S. finishing in a 6:25.07. The U.S. will race in the C/D semifinals tomorrow.

In the lightweight men's single sculls, Jimmy McCullough (Philadelphia, Pa./University of Delaware/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) finished fifth in his quarterfinal and now will race in tomorrow's C/D semifinals. With three to advance, McCullough got off the line in fourth position with Ireland's Hugh Moore, but the two could not maintain the pace of the top three scullers. Algeria's Sid Ali Boudina led through the halfway point before Italy's Gabriel Soares took the lead in the third quarter of the race. Bulgaria's Lazar Peneve rowed in third the entire way down the course. Soares won the race in a 7:02.32, with Boudina finishing 0.33 back in a 7:02.65. McCullough finished fifth in a 7:17.94.

Seven crews will be racing for spots in the finals during tomorrow's semifinals.

Lightweight women's single sculler Mary Jones Nabel (Huntsville, Ala./University of Tennessee/Cambridge Boat Club) won her repechage on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals Jones Nabel will take on scullers from Spain, New Zealand, Italy, Greece, and Tunisia in the second of two semifinals, needing a top-three finish to move on to the final. Italy and New Zealand are the two heat winners in the race.

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 heat of the women's pair to advance to Thursday's semifinals. With three to advance to the final, the duo will take on crews from Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Italy, and Australia in the second semifinal. New Zealand is the lone heat winner in the race.

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) advanced to the semifinals thanks to a second-place finish in their heat. Best and Grady will face crews from Lithuania, Australia, Spain, Serbia, and Austria in the second of two semis, with the top three moving on to the final. Australia and Spain won their opening heats.

Molly Reckford (Short Hills, N.J./Dartmouth College/Sarasota Crew) and Michelle Sechser (Folsom, Calif./University of Tulsa/Cambridge Boat Club) won their heat of the lightweight women's double sculls to reach the semifinals. With three to advance to the final, the duo will take on boats from New Zealand, China, France, Switzerland, and Italy. France is the other heat winner in the race.

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) advanced to the semifinals thanks to a third-place finish in its repechage. The crew will take on boats from Italy, Great Britain, Ireland, China, and New Zealand in the first of two semifinals, with the top three advancing to the final. Great Britain and Ireland both won their heats on Monday.

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) won a tight battle with Switzerland to finish second in its heat and earn a spot in the semifinals. The quartet will face crews from France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Romania, and Switzerland in the first semifinal, with the top three moving on to the final. The Netherlands and Romania are the top seeds in the race, having won their heats.

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) qualified for Thursday's semifinals thanks to a third-place finish in its heat. Needing a top-three finish to advance to the final, the Americans will face crews from Germany, Italy, Australia, Great Britain, and The Netherlands in the second semifinal. Great Britain is the lone heat winner in the race.

Kara Kohler (Clayton, Calif./University of California, Berkeley/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) finished third in her repechage and will be racing in the second of two C/D semifinals on Thursday against scullers from Slovenia, Austria, Norway, and Egypt.

The remaining semifinals, as well as the first set of finals, take place on Friday. 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.