Nicholls Bows Out of K1 500m at Semi Final Stage

WAIS kayaker Alana Nicholls has bowed out at the semi-final stage of the women’s K1 500m after a lightning race featuring the world’s best paddlers.

Nicholls started well and was vying for the lead at the halfway mark with the Ukranian paddler, but in the sprint to the line, Nicholls was unable to hold off the attacks from South Africa, Finland and Poland.

Nicholls, who recorded a time of 1:52.224, said she had her sights set on the final.

“I had a really good race but I only had an hour turn around from my heat,” Nicholls said. “I was in the last heat and the first semi-final, so it was pretty hard to back up the race.”

Nicholls’ London campaign is far from over however, with the dual Australian champion set to feature in the K1 200m event, which begins on Friday, with the final on Saturday.

The Australian men’s K4 1000m crew has survived another cut throat day of action at Eton Dorney and will have the chance to paddle for gold on Day 13.

Four more Australian crews contested heats and semi-finals this morning with the K4 of Tate Smith, David Smith, Murray Stewart and Jacob Clear the only boat to win through to the medal race.

After finishing third in their heat, the Australian crew regrouped and took an early lead in the 1000m race, executing their strokes with good rhythm and efficiency.

The Australian crew, which won silver at the 2011 world championships, faced a late surge from Germany but had enough to cover the current world champions, crossing the line in a time of 2:52.505.

Lyndsie Fogarty and Naomi Flood also bowed out in the semi-finals of the women’s K2 500m after a slow start against another top quality field.

Fogarty and Flood finished seventh and will race a B Final on Thursday.

17-year-olds Jake Donaghey and Alex Haas were gallant in their semi-final of the men’s C2 1000m but have shown they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

The young pair finished sixth in the semi-final in a time of 3:52,018 but have both stated their desire to improve over the next four years ahead of Rio.

David Smith and Ken Wallace will chase a medal in the men’s K2 1000m tomorrow on the third day of competition.