K4 on their way to Gold Tate Smith, David Smith, Murray Stewart and Jacob Clear Photograph:Sportscene |
London Olympic K4 gold medallists are back in action as U23 Australian Selection heats up.
Rain has not dampened the spirits of the paddlers at Sydney International Regatta Centre this morning for day one of the 2013 Grand Prix 3 Regatta in Penrith, NSW.
London Olympic K4 gold medallists Tate Smith, David Smith, Murray Stewart and Jacob Clear contested the men’s K1 1000 heats in their first competitive hit out since victory at last years’ Summer Games.
The gold medallists will contest the K4 1000 Final this afternoon at 2:30pm local time.
All four Olympians got off to solid starts with Stewart the pick of the bunch finishing second is his heat behind Swedish star Anders Gustafsson, who finished fifth in the K1 1000 in London last August.
The battle for U23 selection continues to heat up with athlete performances this weekend to determine who gets to represent Australia at the ICF U23 World Championships in Welland, Canada from 1-4 August.
Queensland teenagers Bill Bain and Jordan Wood, South Australia’s Luke Haniford look like the ones to beat after dominating their respective semi finals of the U23 K1 1000.
Illawarra Canoe Club paddle Scott Smith is another in contention after winning the fourth semifinal and is confident of a strong performance tomorrow but acknowledges that dual Youth Olympic gold medallist Bain will be tough to beat.
“I was pretty happy to get the two wins and looking forward to tomorrow’s final,” said Smith.
“Billy Bain is the one to beat; he always paddles well as these events.”
25 year old Naomi Flood continued her excellent form after finishing second in the 2012/13 Telstra Ironwoman Series with victory in her K1 500 heat this morning ahead of Western Australian Alana Nicholls and Gold Coast’s Bernadette Wallace.
London Olympic K1 200 gold medallist Lisa Carrington looks a one to beat after a dominant display in heat 2 crossing the line in 1:56.21, two second ahead of fellow Kiwi Tanielle Hatton, with NSWIS paddler Jo Brigden-Jones finishing in third.
Key Races to come
2:05pm – MK2 1000 U23 Semifinals
2:30pm – MK4 1000 Final
3:35pm – MK4 1000 U23 Final
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