World champion sculler Kim Crow stretched her remarkable post-Olympic win streak to 14 races as she confirmed her favouritism for another World Cup title this weekend in Sydney.
Crow produced the stand-out performance of the opening day of the World Cup rowing regatta at Penrith Lakes on Friday with a commanding victory in the heats of the single sculls.
The Victorian blew away Chinese and Estonian rivals to win in seven minutes and 34.87 seconds - easily the fastest time of the heats.
It was four seconds quicker than that posted by Kiwi Emma Twigg who also joined Crow in Sunday's final by beating Czech Olympic champion Mirka Knapkova in their heat.
The trio swept the medals at last year's world championships in South Korea where Crow capped her first full year as a single sculler with her 11th straight win of 2013.
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Since then the 28-year-old has won her two single scull races at this week's Australian titles, plus Friday's World Cup heat, to push her streak to 14. She also bagged the national double sculls crown with Phoebe Stanley.
But the former hurdler doesn't expect No.15 - against Twigg and Knapkova - to be a cruise.
"Both of them are tough racers," said Crow, who took home silver and bronze from the 2012 London Games. "Mirka is known for going out very fast at times, while Emma is renowned for her strong finish.
"I'll be aware of what they're doing but focus on my race and I aim to put my best race out there.
"I was happy with the row, and my good rhythm today. It set me up for a good final."
Crow's win highlighted a day on which Australian boats made their way into eight of Sunday's finals.
The most thrilling and noteworthy was the efforts of the women's quad scull combination of Jess Hall, Kerry Hore, Maddie Edmunds and Jennifer Cleary who pipped the German world champions after virtually going stroke for stroke for the entire race.
Meantime, Australia's young men's four of Angus Moore, Alexander Hill, Spencer Turrin and Alexander Lloyd held off the world champion Dutch crew in their heat and consigned them to an extra race in Saturday's repechages.
