WA Wrap Up: Under 23 World Champs

WA Athletes Rise to the Occasion @ World U23 Champs

The Aussie crews who competed at World Under 23 Rowing Championships in July did us all proud with their incredible hard racing all week long. The WA athletes - Becky, Riley, Alex R, Johnson & Alex B - plus coach Jamie were crucial parts of the team's results and we are so proud!!

Men's Coxless Quad

The boys cruised through the heat into the A/B Semi where they were challenged by a tough field - fourth through the 1500m, it took a classic Rossi push to pump out the quickest last 500m and cross the line first to book their A Final slot. The Final was a quick start - second to the half way mark where they faced off with an extremely fast finishing German crew who took a page out of the Aussies' book and went from fourth to first! The fellas were thrilled with their Bronze medal - check out the smiles!

Athletes: Alex Rossi (WARC), Johnson Daubney (SRRC), Harry Fox (MUBC), Nick Blackman (AUBC), Coach: Jamie Hewlett (WAIS)

Result: Bronze (5:45.36)

Photo: Art of Rowing/Rowing Australia

Women's Coxless Four

The girls took the longer route to the A-Final, via the repechage, but in a tough progression with only the two heat winners going stratight through this wasn't too much of a disadvantage. They were the fastest of all the repechage winners and put them in good contention for the A Final... when Sunday's race rolled aound, it started almost how it finished - Poland out in front from the start, China into second, and the Aussies slotting into third from the 500m. Holding off a big push from a motivated GB crew in the closing stages, the girls earned their podium spot and were absolutely thrilled!!

Athletes: Sarah Marriott (MUBC), Sara de Uray (MUBC), Becky Pretorius (SRRC), Phoebe Robinson (UQBC), Coach: Alistair Matthews (Mercantile)

Result: Bronze (6:35.80)

Photo: Art of Rowing/Rowing Australia

Men's Coxed Four

Riley's Four cruised through their heat, qualifying second fastest of the two heats and booking their Saturday A-Final slot on Thursday. The final was a battle for the bronze medal - winners Italy led almost from the start, and the rest of the podium as hard fought. The Aussies ended up missing bronze by less than half a second - an amazing result that we are very proud of!

Athletes: cox: Hannah Cowap (SRC), Alex Wood (UTS), Dylan Rhodes (KAND), Torben Ungemach (UTS), Riley Rees-Turner (SRRC/KAND), Coach: Matt Ungemach (UTS)

Result: Fourth (6:13.15)

Photo: Art of Rowing/Rowing Australia

Men's Coxed Eight

The US-Based U23 Eight was only selected a month ago but under the coaching of John Bowes they pulled off something magnificent! The fellas booked an A Final directly from their heat and Sunday's race was as exciting as it promised to be. The Aussies fought valiantly for the bronze medal position, but in the second 1000m the German crew won the tussle for the last podium spot. A super campaign from a talented crop of sweep rowers!

Athletes: cox: Harry Keenan (SRC/Yale), Patrick Long (UQBC/Princeton), Alex McClean (Mosman/Yale), Alex Baroni (WARC/Cal Berkeley), Harry Manton (MUBC/Cal Berkeley), Marcus Emmett (MUBC/Yale), Lachlan Doust (UTS/Syracuse), Jamie Arnold (MUBC/Cal Berkeley), James Isles (MUBC/Dartmouth), Coach: John Bowes (Rowing Australia)

Result: Fourth (6:13.15)

Photo: Art of Rowing/Rowing Australia

You can read World Rowing's full race report here!