Fiona Murtagh won her single scull heat comfortably, defending her World Champion title. Fintan McCarthy won his lightweight single scull heat with a final sprint, making a successful debut as a heavyweight single sculler. Jonas Slettemark Juel of Norway led most of the race until McCarthy took him out with a well-timed drive, finishing with a margin of 0.45 seconds. Murtagh overcame strong opposition after Aurelia-Maxima Janzen led to 1,000 metres, while Alexandra Foester won the contest for the second automatic semi-final qualification spot. Lauren Henry was the fastest heat winner, and Karolien Florijn did not start her heat. Isobel Clements placed second in her lightweight single heat to reach the final.
"McCarthy, twice an Olympic gold medallist in the lightweight double, made an auspicious debut as a heavyweight single sculler. The race was led virtually all the way by Jonas Slettemark Juel of Norway - only for the Skibbereen man to take him out with a brilliantly-timed drive. The margin of victory was .45 of a second."
"Murtagh stamped her authority on her first race defending her title as World Champion in the single scull. The Galway woman took on and beat strong opposition. Aurelia-Maxima Janzen of Switzerland led to 1,000 metres, but Murtagh took over from there, with Germany's Alexandra Foester winning the battle for the second automatic qualification spot for the semi-finals."
"World Champion Fiona Murtagh won her heat comfortably, while Fintan McCarthy produced a characteristic final sprint to win his on the line. McCarthy, twice an Olympic gold medallist in the lightweight double, made an auspicious debut as a heavyweight single sculler."
"Britain's Lauren Henry, who fought it out with Murtagh last season only to lose in the final race, was the fastest heat winner. Reigning Olympic champion Karolien Florijn of the Netherlands was entered but did not start her heat. Isobel Clements took second in her heat of the lightweight single and took her place in the final."
Read at Irish Independent
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