DAY 1 — Friday July 31 — MORNING REPORT
1000M HEATS
 
7:00 — Coach Barlow, Ben Hefner and I walk to the course – weather is perfect – clear blue sky – no wind
7:30 — Ben heads to the water for a warm up
8:00 — Ben back from his easy paddle / water secured from the Org Com  for our team / Coach Anderson at breakfast with rest of  the team
Vaija / Nelo and Plastex booths are open for service – we have picked up our MK4 that needed some small hull repairs discovered during Boat Control on Wednesday
One country is frantically going through Boat Control – unbelievable, one hour prior to the start of the regatta..
Coach Barlow and I take Ben’s boat over to Boat Control to recheck the boat weight – 16.2 kg
8:35 — Ben heads to water – each athlete must clear “Boat Debarkation” – our process has a Coach and Team Leader go through carrying the boat while the athlete carries their paddle – the ICF official checks their boat for the Boat Control sticker / athlete Body Number and Athlete Photo ID
Coach Barlow goes up the course on his bike to support Ben – athletes paddle up a warm up channel then must dock and crossover a grass median to another dock on the race course.– athletes are not allowed to paddle up the race course for their race
8:45 – Two USA Canoe Kayak ICF accredited officials — Connie Hagler and Connie Naughton go to their positions
9:00 Races begin.
9:07 – Heat #2 – Lane 9 – 1000m C1 – Ben Hefner – Result = 7th 4:27:52 – ranked 18th of 25 – his goal is now to qualify for the B final  - top 9 to ‘A’ Final; 11 – 18 to ‘B’ Final
Poland recorded the fastest time with a 3:59 – the Polish entry won the Pre Test Regatta September, 2008.
Ben said it was cool in the start area when each country is called to the line – “Lane 9 USA” he was very proud to be part of the Junior World Championships as are all of our athletes.
Earlier in the week we took the team over to where the Org Com has all of the competing nation flags – there are 55 countries competing in this the 13th ICF Junior World Championships – it was pointed out to our athletes that it is because of them that the US flag is on that pole – if we are not here competing, our flag is not present – then we said on a count of 3 the loudest Team USA you have ever heard – Putin could hear it in his parliament office in downtown Moscow..
10:15 — WK4 heads back to the hotel, a short 15 minute walk up the side of the course, after a light am paddle, as there is no 1000m for women, they will compete this afternoon in the 500m heats.
MK2 returns from their pre race paddle while the WK2 warms up and stretches with bands.
11:00 — MK2 heads to the water while WK2 continue their pre race routine
MK2 — finishes 4th 3:26.70 and advances to the semi final — ranked 13th of 33. Luke and Cedric both felt they need to back of a little in the first 500 to be able to attack more in the final 500m
11:30 — WK2 finishes 5th 4:02.25 and advances to the semi final — ranked 19th of 25. Katy and Chelsea also felt that they have to back off a little in the first 500m in order to attack the final 500m
11:50 — MK4 heads to the water – 2 of the athletes are asked to remove wrist watches – these are not prohibited by the rules – the Chief Official indicated this at the Team Leaders meeting the day before – another example of an official being too officious – it was refreshing to hear the Chief Official say that we must educate the Juniors versus punish them through disqualification.
MK4 – finishes their race and feel that was the best they have felt – finishing 8th in a time of 3:14.90 — ranked 27thof 28 – they are eliminated – their time in a strong tailwind today has not improved since Lake Placid.