ITHACA, N.Y. – Not many athletes let alone collegiate student-athletes are afforded the opportunity to represent their country on the world stage, but Ithaca College's Dehron Smith is doing just that competing in the 2022 World Rowing Under 23 Championships this week in Varese, Italy.

With temperatures up to 35°C, racing begun on Lago di Varese Monday morning for the 2022 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.

Dehron Smith a rising senior on the IC men's rowing team got his U23 Championships started as he raced in the first heat of the men's single sculls. Competing against athletes from Great Britain, Norway, Slovenia and Chile, Smith raced out of lane one finishing the heat fifth with a time of 8:00.89. Callum Dixon raced out to the early 500m lead and never looked back as he comfortably won the heat (7:03.83).

20 athletes moved straight to quarterfinals while the others will have to go through the repechages tomorrow afternoon, including Smith. Fans can follow along with LIVE TRACKER and LIVE AUDIO, which will be available for all races on worldrowing.com.

LIVE VIDEO will be available from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July, 31 and will start five minutes before the start of the first race.