U23 girls

USA BLW4x
KARZ Devery
NELSON Lauren
ROBINSON Katherine
BURKE Victoria

Start of the Senior B Lightweight Women's Quadruple Sculls at the 2009 World Rowing U23 Championshipd in Racice/Prague, Czech Republic. MyRowingPhoto.comLightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls (BLW4x)

Entering the under 23 championships for the first time, this event has attracted nine countries to race. These nine boats were divided into two heats with the top two boats going directly to the Final. The four women in each boat had to weigh in this morning two hours before the race with each boat having an average weight of 57kg. They then took to the water and in Heat One Germany set the pace.

Stroked by Kaja Brecht, Germany got out just in front of the Netherlands. As the Dutch slipped back, the United States moved into second and tried to get up with the Germans. Germany, however, were in control and got to the finish line easily in front. The US earned a spot in the Final with their second place finish.

Australia did not hold back in Heat Two. Despite being in the lead, the French were hot on their tails and unrelenting. France also had to worry about a surging Japanese crew and thus continued to work hard to keep their qualification hopes alive. Coming into the final sprint, three boats were battling it out for two spots with Australia still in the lead. A solid sprint by Japan gave them second and, along with Australia a position in Sunday’s Final.