USA Sprint Athletes Test The Waters in Beijing
Silver Medal for Carrie Johnson
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By Chris Hipgrave // USA Canoe/Kayak // Sunday, August 26, 2007
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BEIJING, China -- USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint National Team athletes compete in the "Good Luck Beijing" Flatwater Test Event August 23-26 in Beijing, China.
The regatta, which is serving as the test event for the 2008 Olympic venue, began Thursday, August 23, one year before the start of the Games. The impressive, expansive and newly opened Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park was recognized by ICF executives as the "course best for both the Olympic Games and local economic development."
Johnson, Zur, House, Smoke and Malloch competed against a talented international field consisting of most of the finalists from last months World Championships, all motivated to leave their mark at this inaugural regatta.
Continuing her succession of magnificent performances this year, Carrie Johnson (Chula Vista, CA), duked out the K1W-500m final along side World Champions Katalin Kovacs (HUN) and Katrin Wagner (GER). Finishing in spectacular fashion, Johnson hung on for the Silver Medal, her first international medal in the 500m events. Her second place time was 1:50.633 and a scant 0.623 seconds behind the winner, Kovacs.
20 year old Morgan House (Gainesville, GA) struggled to find his form in the K1-1000m event finishing 6th in semifinal-1 in 3:44.018, but rebounded with a solid showing with team-mate Jeff Smoke (Buchanan, MI) in the K2-500m event to finish 6th in semifinal-1 and 1:38.764. Smoke also teamed with Rami Zur (Chula Vista, CA) in K2-1000m to finish 4th in semifinal-1 and 3:25.663
After an impressive summer of World Cups and the World Championships, Zur finished 9th in the K1-500m final which was likely the most competitive race of the regatta. Zur finished in 1:40.967.
The Test Event teams lone canoeist, Jordan Malloch (Seattle, WA) struggled with difficult wind conditions and a tough lane selection in the C1-500m event to finish in 2.08.642 and 6th in semifinal-1. The C1-1000m final proved for fortuitous for Malloch when a strong performance concluded with a 7th in 4:13.654.
"The Good Luck Beijing organizing committee has done an outstanding job of coordinating this event at the Olympic Canoeing Park. The venue is extraordinarily impressive in its scale and construction," comments USACK Sprint Head Coach, Nathan Luce. "Our athletes have adapted well to the rigors of traveling to Beijing and preparing to race in this new environment. They're relaxed and enjoying the Chinese hospitality while still bringing their A-game to the regatta. I'm genuinely looking forward to returning to Beijing in 2008."
Complete results, photo gallery and video available at www.canoe2007.org.cn/en/flatwater/index.html |
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