National Champs Commence in Perth
The first day of the National Canoe/Kayak Sprint Championships got underway yesterday with an encouraging start from WAIS athletes in the heats and semi finals of the K1 and K2 500m. Racing will continue through till Sunday with finals action commencing from Friday afternoon.
In the men’s K1 500m Reece Baker (Marmion) and Jesse Phillips (Nollamara) have progressed safely through to the final where Olympic Champion Ken Walace will start as favourite. In a very encouraging sign for the future, surf ironman convert Brendan Sarson (Balcatta) in his first start at this level of competition narrowly missed a place in the final by coming fourth in his semi. WAIS Head Coach Ramon Andersson said, “It was a great effort by Sarson who didn’t quite nail his first two strokes which was the difference by what he missed out on the final by, however, will be in the B final where there are still points on offer that go towards national selection”.
In the women’s K1 500m Lisa Russ (Hilton) and Alana Nicholls (Dianella) looked very convincing and are expected to fight out the medals with Russ’s Olympic bronze medal winning team mates Lyndsie Fogarty (QAS) and Hannah Davis (SASI) as well as Jo Brigden Jones (NSWIS) and Andrea Wood (QAS).
The men’s K2 500m saw Jesse Phillips and Steve Bird (Mount Pleasant) safely make the final where they will be one of the serious contenders for a top 2 place which will earn automatic qualification for the Australian team for the World Cup tour. Murray Stewart (NSWIS) and Olympian Jacob Clear (QAS) are favourites to take out this event. Brendan Sarson and Daniel Bowker (Kingsley) racing together for the first time also made the final in a courageous and determined effort that saw them storm home in third place.
Lisa Russ and Alana Nicholls looked in fine touch when they cruised into the final where they will fight it out with 6th place Olympic crew Hannah Davis and Lyndsie Fogarty. Jenni Bateman (Wembley) competing with local surf paddler Jacqui Lane had an outstanding paddle when they came third in the semi final where a top 6 placing in the finalis now on the cards.