WAIS-AIS kayaker Alana Nicholls has recorded a fifth place finish in the women’s K1 200m final at World Cup 1 in Poland over the weekend.
In her first overseas competition for 2012, Nicholls crossed the line in 43.94 to finish 1.33 seconds behind local favourite Marta Walczykiewicz who blitzed the field in an ominous display to her rivals in the lead up to London. Fellow countrywomen Karolina Naja finished second, with Finland’s Jenni Mikkonen taking home the bronze.
Nicholls struggled to contend with the ‘tricky cross wind’, getting off to a poor start and never really recovered, but was glad to get the first race out of the way and is looking forward to competing at the next world cup in Duisburg, Germany in a week’s time.
“I love racing internationally that is why I do it, that probably wasn’t one of my best performances but this is really a warm up for us and I will be looking at the next two regattas as they were always my target.”
“While it is disappointing to not have the result that I want, I’ll be looking to better that next week.”
Joining Nicholls in action in Poland was the fellow WAIS partnership of Steve Bird and Jesse Phillips, who put in another solid display in Poznan, posting a quick time of 34.287 to narrowly miss out on victory in the men’s K2 200 B final.
The duo finished just 0.08 seconds behind Serbian pair Ognjen Filipovic and Dragan Zoric, with Belarus athletes Raman Piathrushenka and Vadzim Makhneu combining for third.
The pair has made dramatic improvement on their times from 2011, with the duo now within touching distance of breaking through for an A-final position, and with only one boat per country in contention at the Olympics in London later this year, Bird and Phillips look set for a busy European season.
The next World Cup will be held in Duisburg, Germany from 25-27 May.
– with Canoeing Australia
