Narrow Miss for Jeffery at World Champs
WAIS slalom canoe athlete Robin Jeffery has finished marginally shy of a world championship finals spot after two gate-touches in the semi final saw him finish in 23rd spot.
The 28 year old London Olympian missed out a securing a place in the final by six seconds after he produced a time of 104.50, which included two gate touches.
Unfortunately the result was not good enough for Australia to secure an Olympic quota for Rio but Jeffery is confident of doing so through the continental qualification.
“I made a mistake on number 11, and then went into my shell a bit,” Jeffery said.
“I’m really disappointed with my response, so I’m absolutely gutted. But I’m really looking forward to trying to qualify a spot at the Continentals.”
Earlier, Jeffery has finished ninth in the qualification runs to re-inforce the view that he can match it with the best in the world.
“To make a top ten in such a great field is great for my confidence. Even before this race I knew that on my day I can make top five,” Jeffery said.
Jeffery’s London Olympic C2 partner and fellow WAIS scholarship holder, Kynan Maley made his return to Lee Valley to race at his first World Championships since 2011.
The 33 year old narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth, finishing 34th in Thursday’s qualification runs.
Jeffery and Maley teamed up with Ethan Hodson to finish 10th in the C1 teams final.
-CanoeingAus