2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals Commenced in Italy

Racing commenced today for the Beach Sprint Finals in Genoa, Italy, after yesterday’s events were canceled due to weather conditions. Today’s weather challenges resulted in changes throughout the day, some of the later races were measured from the finish time in the water and not with a sprint to the finish line. The second set of time trials was canceled due to conditions and instead of the top eight progressing, places first through sixteen progress to tomorrow’s knockout rounds. Racing tomorrow may be canceled due to conditions and will be announced. 

Chris Bak got out to a strong start in the coastal men’s solo, finishing his time trial in a time of 2:35.84, the fastest time of the day by over 3.17 seconds ahead of reigning champion Adrian Miramon Quiroga. 

“I was really happy with the time trial. It’s definitely settled down a bit since yesterday,” Chris Bak said. “Hopefully we don’t race till Sunday, but a lot of good athletes out here. Nice conditions - I’ll race in anything, flat or bumpy. That’s what’s coastal, so it’s a good time.”

In the U19 women’s solo, Annelise Hahl dominated the time trial with a time of 2:37.78 just under six seconds ahead of second-place finisher Astrid Thomas from Australia. Hahl advances to tomorrow’s knockout round where she will compete against Canada’s Autumn Prior who finished 16th in the time trial.

Hahl followed up her strong performance in the solo event by finishing fourth overall in the U19 women’s double sculls time trial with her partner Annalie Duncomb. New Zealand’s Teagan Negus and Lily Curnow finished fastest with a time of 2:27.89 closely followed by Spain, Cyprus and the USA, who were all within a second of each other. Hahl and Duncomb advance to the knockout round where they will compete against Latvia, who finished thirteenth in the time trial. 

Christine Cavallo was off to a strong start against a stacked field finishing ninth overall in her time trial in a time of 3:03.81. New Zealand’s Emma Twigg, Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in the women’s single sculls, won the time trial in a time of 2:57.16. Cavallo will face off against Germany’s Julia Tertuente, who finished just ahead of Cavallo in the time trial.

Ronan Maher finished 15th in the time trial in a time of 2:41.27. The time trial was won by the Czech Republic’s Lukas Kasik in a time of 2:20.58. He will advance to the round of knockouts. 

The first race for the newly added PR3 mixed double sculls proved successful for the American crew of Dani Hansen and Gary Rought. They got off well, crossing the first timing mark in second place, but ultimately finishing the time trial in third behind Italy. They will face off against sixth place finishers, Germany, tomorrow.

Team USA’s mixed quadruple sculls finished thirteenth in their time trial in a time of 2:21.79. The crew of Malachi Anderson, Cassidy Norton, Sierra Bishop, Justin Stevens and Coral Kasden advance to the knockout round where they will compete against the Italian crew who finished fourth overall. 

In the mixed double sculls, Christine Cavallo and Kory Rogers finished 24th overall in the time trial. A large wave and bank on the shore proved challenging for Cavallo, taking significant time off the crew’s start. Due to the cancellation of the second time trial, Cavallo and Rogers do not advance. 

Melanie Wotovich and Ronan Maher finished 19th overall in the time trial for the U19 mixed double sculls narrowly missing out on advancing to the next round. Australia won the time trial with Great Britain following closely in second place. 

Nathaniel Pegg and Colton Seidel finished 18th overall in the U19 men’s double sculls time trial in a time of 2:44.15. Australia’s Samuel Forbes and Oscar Scheel Gamborg won the time trial in a time of 2:08.32. Without a second time trial opportunity, Pegg and Seidel will not advance to the next round. 

Racing is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow, but may be canceled if conditions continue to prove challenging. Results can be found here. Photos from the day are available here.