KEY POINTS:
New Zealand single scullers Joseph Sullivan and Graham Oberlin-Brown comfortably won their heats on the first day of the world under-23 rowing championships at Brandenburg, Germany overnight.
Three other New Zealand crews qualified for the semifinals but it wasn't so rosy for the men's eight, who were forced into a repechage.
Sullivan eased into the singles quarterfinals after powering clear in his heat and finished strongly to emphasise his medal credentials.
Lightweight sculler Oberlin-Brown, half of last year's champion under-23 lightweight double, also dominated his heat from the outset and advances straight to the semifinals of his heat.
The New Zealand men's four, who won silver last year, finished behind Romania but it was enough to reach the semis.
The women's four bounced back from an average start with a powerful second 500m which set up second, also to Romania, after hauling in fancied crews from Croatia Russia, Belarusia and Slovenia.
Second place also befell the women's quadruple sculls, who led early but were passed by Germany at the 1000m mark.
The fourth-placed men's eight couldn't match the sharp pace of the United States, Canada and defending champions Estonia so must try their luck in the repechage tomorrow.
- NZPA
