POZNAN, Poland – Washington rowers had a successful day across a number of events on the second day of the 2018 World Rowing Under-23 Championships on Thursday, highlighted by wins by three different Huskies in women's double sculls heats, as well strong finishes in the men's and women's eights heats.
 
The day got off to an excellent start in terms of the UW rowers competing. In the first three races of the morning – the opening heats of the women's double sculls – boats featuring UW women won, each in wire-to-wire fashion.
 
In heat one, Anna Thornton '19, fresh from a double sculls win at the Henley Royal Regatta, raced to a first-place finish, leading the whole way to beat the rest of five-boat field with a time of 7:15.540. In the second heat, it was Washington's Valentina Iseppi '20, sculling for Italy, who go the win along with her teammate. Iseppi's double crossed the line in 7:25.360, more than three seconds ahead of Australia.
 
In the third heat. UW's Sofia Asoumanaki '21 and her Greek partner, also picked up the win, finishing more than seven seconds ahead of second-place Hungary, in 7:24.900.
 
All three of those doubles will move directly to an A/B semifinal on Saturday morning.
 
The U.S. women's eight, featuring Huskies Elise Beuke '19, Marlee Blue '19 and Brooke Pierson '18, advanced directly to the A final with a second-place finish in its heat. Needing to finish in the top-two to avoid rowing in a repechage, the Americans were third at 1,000 meters, but passed the German entry in the second half and earned the second-place finish in 6:24.900.
 
In the second women's eight heat, the Dutch boat, which included incoming UW freshman Lisa Goossens '22, also moved through to the A final with a second-place finish (6:30.190).
 
Boats with Washington rowers also fared well in the men's eight heats. In the first heat, the United States crew featuring six Huskies (Rielly Milne '18, Chris Carlson '19, Andrew Gaard '19, Samuel Halbert '20, Arne Landboe '18, Madison Molitor '19) took the lead in the second 500 and rowed to the win in 5:36.410, earning a direct path to the A final.
 
In that same heat, the Great Britain boat with Harvey Kay '20 rowing in the two seat, finished second behind the U.S., in 5:38.540. Only the winner moved through to the final, so the Brits will row in a repechage on Friday, needing a top-two finish to remain in medal contention.
 
In the second men's eight heat, UW's Gert-Jan van Doorn and his Dutch crew led the entire way for the win, also moving through to the A final. The Netherlands boat, with van Doorn rowing in the four seat, won comfortably, in 5:41.880.
 
In the men's quad sculls heats, Canadian Nick Everett '21 and his crew finished sixth in a tightly-packed field and will row in a repechage Friday morning. Just two seconds separated third through sixth place in the heat.
 
On Friday, several Huskies will be back in action. Along with Everett's Canadian men's quad sculls and Kay's British men's eight rowing in repechages, Husky Ben Davison '19 will row in a quarterfinal in the men's single sculls, having won his heat on Wednesday.
 
Here's a list of Washington rowers competing at the Under-23 Worlds, with times and days for their next competition (all times are Central European Time (GMT+2), nine hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time).
 
Women's Double Sculls (W2x)
Sofia Asoumanaki '21, GRE
Valentina Iseppi '20, ITA
Anna Thornton '19, GB
A/B semifinals: Sat., July 28, at 12:35 and 12:42 p.m. CET
 
Women's Eight (W8+)
Lisa Goossens '22, NED
Elise Beuke '19, Marlee Blue '19, Brooke Pierson '18, USA
A final: Sun., July 29, at 12:55 p.m. CET
 
Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls (LM4x)
Chase Deitner '21, USA
A final: Sat., July 28, at 4:50 p.m. CET
 
Men's Single Sculls (M1x)
Ben Davison '19, USA
Quarterfinal: Fri., July 27, at 8:40 a.m. CET
 
Men's Four (M4-)
Elijah Maesner '19, USA
A/B semifinals: Sat., July 28, at 12:49 and 12:56 p.m. CET
 
Men's Quadruple Sculls (M4x)
Nick Everett '21, CAN
Repechage: Fri., July 27, at 10:40 a.m. CET
 
Men's Eight (M8+)
Harvey Kay '20, GB
Gert-Jan van Doorn '21, NED
Rielly Milne '18, Chris Carlson '19, Andrew Gaard '19, Samuel Halbert '20, Arne Landboe '18, Madison Molitor '19, USA
Repechage (GB): Fri., July 27, at 10:55 a.m. CET
A final (USA and NED): Sun., July 29, at 1:40 p.m. CET