Mega Worlds roundup
St. Catharines Rowing Club’s Giancarlo DiPompeo (University of Victoria) and Owen Kudreikis (University of Pennsylvania) turned in the top local performance at the 2024 World Rowing Senior, Under 23, and Under 19 Championships (Mega Worlds) Aug. 18-25 in St. Catharines.
Competing in the under-23 lightweight men’s double, the twosome lead early in the race before finishing fourth. They missed the podium by 4.28 seconds.
Notre Dame Rowing Club’s Lucas Maroney placed fifth in the under-19 men’s single.
“It feels good to know that I have improved over the past year and that my work has paid off. The junior single is always a tough field and being top five in the world is something that I am proud of,” Maroney told the Rowing Canada website.
He placed fourth in the B final at the 2023 U19 World Rowing Championships in Paris, France.
Brock’s Stephen Harris won the C Final of the senior lightweight men’s single to place 13th overall.
Brock rowers, Connor Dodds (Regina Boat Club), Charles-Etienne Tabet (Club d’Aviron Boucherville) and Riley Watson (Peterborough Rowing Club), and Niko Schramm, a St. Catharines Rowing Club member who rows for the University of British Columbia, placed second in the under-23 men’s lightweight quad. Only two boats competed in the event.
St. Catharines Rowing Club coxswain Serafina Dell (Brock), and South Niagara Rowing Club’s Aurelia Elliott (Harvard) and Madeson Scott (University of Michigan) finished fourth in the under-23 women’s coxed four. Only four boats competed in the event.
Brock’s Isabella and Zoe Durcak, placed second in the under-23 women’s lightweight quad. Only two boats competed in the event.
Brock’s Keithan Woodhouse won the D final in the men’s under-23 single to place 19th overall
South Niagara Rowing Club’s Stella Bittman (UCLA ) and Ridley Grad Boat Club member Autumn Crowe (University of Michigan) placed 12th in the B Final of the under-23 women’s four to end up 12th overall.
St. Catharines Rowing Club’s Teagan Orth (University of Virginia) and Cait Whittard (University of Washington) placed seventh in the under-23 women’s eight.
St. Catharines Rowing Club member Owen Bartel (University of British Columbia) and Niagara Falls Rowing Club member Payton Gauthier (Syracuse University) were fourth in the under-23 men’s eight out of six boats. They missed the podium by less than a second.
A Notre Dame Rowing Club/E.L. Crossley men’s coxed four made up of Liam Shapland, Lucas Riddle, James Cuff, Andrew Nawrocki and Dario Cirello placed sixth out of six boats in the under-19 division.
Ridley College’s Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Jade Postma and Sydney Swick placed sixth out of six boats in the under-19 women’s eight.
Ridley College’s Caillen Pieckenhagen was sixth out of six boats in the under-19 men’s eight.
“The experience gained by our athletes and coaches at this world championships has been incredibly valuable. For the first time, we implemented a trials process, which made the opportunity to compete more accessible and gave more athletes a taste of the international standard,” Rowing Canada Aviron’s high performance director Adam Parfitt said. “Additionally, 14 coaches from across Canada had the chance to see this level of competition first-hand and will now bring that experience back to their clubs and schools. This event has been a crucial step in the journey for our young athletes, and now the next phase of work begins. We look forward to watching these athletes grow and supporting them as they train to achieve great things for Canadian rowing in the years to come.”
Local coaches taking part in the event included: Brock coaches Scott Anderson, Mary Rao and Katie Bruggeling; Siobhan McLaughlin and Dereck Schwandt from Ridley College; Mike Petrychanko from the St. Catharines Rowing Club; and, Chris Marshall from the RowOntario/Ontario NextGen Performance Centre in Welland.
“As we reflect on this remarkable week, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2024 Mega Worlds. This event would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our government partners, sponsors, and the dedicated efforts of over 800 volunteers who worked tirelessly to help bring this event to life,” said Bill Schenck, chair of St. Catharines World Rowing. “Congratulations to all the athletes who competed and thank you to the fans from around the world who came to support and celebrate with us. St. Catharines has once again shown its ability to host world-class rowing events, and we couldn’t be prouder.”
