Two New Zealand crews are through to the latter stages of competition after the opening day of the world junior rowing championships in Trakai, Lithuania.
The women's four of Holly Greenslade and Alice Darry of St Margaret's College, Emma Dyke of Craighead Diocesan and Eloise Dowse of Cambridge rowing club won their heat in 7min 17.28s to qualify straight to their final.
New Zealand got an early lead and held off crews from France, Australia, the Czech Republic, Canada and Ukraine.
The men's quad scull was the last New Zealand crew to race in the heats and needed a win to claim a place in the semifinals. The quartet of Mitchell Mackenzie-Mol from Queen Charlotte College, Ben Crosbie of St Andrews College, Marty Davenport from Westlake Boys High School and Kavanagh College's Jack O'Leary got it with a strong showing, winning in 6:19.99, five seconds ahead of Slovenia.
The women's quad of Zoe McBride of Kavanagh College, Brooke Donoghue of Waikato Rowing Club, Hannah Bailey of Woodford House and Ashlee Caskie of Auckland Rowing Club finished second after a good tussle with the Italian four, clocking 7:10.94 to move into the semifinals.
