ROWING: Australia concluded its 2018 World Rowing Junior Championships with two silver and one bronze medal, with two young superstars now preparing to compete at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
Australia’s Junior Women’s Coxed Four and Junior Men’s Single Scull both claimed silver, while the Junior Men’s Coxed Four won bronze. The Junior Women’s Four, who were also in an A-Final, finished fifth.
Deputy Performance Director, Jaime Fernandez said,
“Congratulations to all of the Australian crews and coaches who competed at the Junior Worlds, many for the first time. There were some very hotly contested races and to see three of the crews achieve a podium finish is great reward for all of their efforts.
“This of course would not be possible without the support of a broader team including RA, support staff, the network of schools, clubs, State Institutes and Academies who are the Rowing Pathway in Australia and most critically the support which comes from family and friends.”
2017 World Junior Champion in the Men’s Double Scull and Australia's male rowing representative for YOG, Cormac Kennedy-Leverett wrapped up his final year in junior competition with a silver medal in the Junior Men’s Single Scull. Leading at the start, the Queenslander was going to face some stiff competition in his final from the reigning World Champion, USA’s Clark Dean.
The Australian was being chased down by Germany, Belgium and USA as they crossed the 500m mark. As Kennedy-Leverett made his move to break away, the American went with him with the two leading the field.
However, it wasn’t to be, with Kennedy-Leverett holding off his challenger to take silver, while Dean picked up back to back gold medals.
“Sunday was a really nice race on a phenomenal course! I had to change my race plan slightly due to the different conditions, as there was no tailwind today," Kennedy-Leverett said post race.
“I tried hard to keep close to Clark around the 750 metre mark, but it wasn’t to be today. This is my last year as a junior so I’ll try and aim for the Under 23 Australian Rowing Team next year.”
The Junior Women’s Coxed Four did not have a simple lead up into their World Rowing Junior Championships campaign, with Rachel Balcomb being replaced during the lead up, due to injury, by Laura Chancellor. However, the crew did not let the changes faze them and today walked away with a silver medal.
Post-race, Sydney Rowing Club’s Isabelle Furrer said, “this was the best race of my life! We executed the plan perfectly and it’s been amazing here at the World Championships in Račice.”
Following the Women’s Coxed Four, came their male counterparts, Ben Gerrard, Logan Ullrich, Hamish Henriques, Miller Rowe and coxswain Isaac Schmidt. The Queensland/West Australian combination were in second at the halfway mark, chasing down the leading USA, with Italy also in hot pursuit, but ultimately the Aussie team claimed bronze.
Logan Ullrich, from KAND Rowing Club in Queensland, said after receiving his medal, “That was an unreal race, really insane! We had a well executed plan today and it’s a great step up being at the Junior World Championships.
“It really feels fantastic to represent Australia and I’m so happy to be here.”
In the Junior Women’s Single Scull, B-Final, 2017 World Junior Champion and Australia's female rowing YOG representative Taylor McCarthy-Smith finished in first place, meaning the single sculler concluded her World Championships campaign ranked seventh in the world.
The Junior Women’s Four of Phoebe Robinson, Hilary Ballinger, Jessica Scott and Leukie Smith were in second place at the 500 metre marker of their A-Final. However, a big push from Italy and the USA saw the Australians drop back as they chased the pack in the Czech Republic. The Queenlanders crossed the line in fifth, with USA taking the gold medal.
McCarthy-Smith and Kennedy-Leverett will go on to represent Australia at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games this October in Argentina.
Rowing Australia/olympics.com.au