Rio Campaign Ends for WA Rowing Duo

Rowing: Women’s Eight and Men’s Double Scull
Athlete: Alex Hagan, David Watts

Venue: Lagoa Stadium

The Rio Olympic journey has ended for WA rowers Alex Hagan and David Watts, with the women’s eight exiting at the repechage stage, whilst Watts claimed victory in the Men’s Double Scull – B Final.

The women’s eight crew of; Fiona Albert, Jessica Morrison, Alexandra Hagan, Meaghan Volker, Molly Goodman, Olympia Aldersey, Lucy Stephan, Charlotte Sutherland and Sarah Banting finished fifth in their repechage missing the final by one place.

The crew, who were late inclusion to the Games, had originally missed out on spot due to finishing third in the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne in May this year. After Russia were unable to boat its women’s eight, the Australians were promoted into the regatta and after finishing fourth in their heat were forced to contest the repechage.

Australia were up against Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand and Romania, all of whom have been training together for months, if not years. The Australians were fifth at the halfway mark and a length and half off their closer competitors.

As they approached the final 500 metres, the top four crews pulled ahead and the Australians were left to finish fifth in what was a valiant effort for a crew that had only been training together for 10 days.

In the B Final of the men’s double scull, Watts and partner Chris Morgan raced to line honours, finishing first in a time of 6:58.11min.

The duo had narrowly missed qualification for the A Final, but made sure they were best of the rest, racing from lane 5, they finished nearly a second ahead of the second placed crew from Germany (6:58.86) with Bulgaria (7:00.85) third.

The result means the Australian double scull crew finished their Rio campaign ranked seventh overall, with plenty to work with for the future.