Mann Atop the Leaderboard After Day 1 in Spain

Heyl Joins Mann in the Top Three in Men’s K-1

LA SEU DE URGELL, Spain – Scott Mann (Woodstock, Vt.) and 2004 Olympian Brett Heyl (Norwich, Vt.) finished day one in first and third place in Men’s K-1 at ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup No. 2 on Saturday in warm and sunny La Seu de Urgell. Beijing Olympian Benn Fraker (Peachtree, Ga.) ranks ninth heading into Sunday of the Men’s C-1 event.

“I think after today, we showed that our men’s kayaks can be top in the world,” Heyl said. “Scott Parsons and Jim Wade were top 10 after the first runs last week and Scott Mann and I are ahead this week.”

After a slow start during the first runs, Mann and Heyl blazed through the course to record top three finishes. Mann led the way with a time of 92.52, beating the World Champion Peter Kauzer of Slovenia by 0.28 seconds. Heyl finished 1.32 seconds behind his fellow American. Two-time Olympian Scott Parsons (Silvania, Ohio) placed 35th and qualified for Sunday’s semifinal round. Jim Wade (Atlanta, Ga.) finished 66th and did not advance.

“It was nice to put it all together in the second run,” Mann said. “It really felt good from start to finish and I knew I was capable of a run like this.”

The semifinal and final runs will take place on a new course, which was demonstrated Saturday evening. USA C/K National Teams Director William Irving said the course will be the most challenging course the athletes have seen all year with some very unnatural moves necessary to get between the gates.

Fraker suffered a touch penalty in both heats, hindering otherwise scorching runs. He will be joined in the semifinal round by 2008 Olympian Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.), who finished in 28th place. Sixteen-year-old Zach Lokken (Durango, Colo.) placed 38th and will not paddle on Sunday.

All three women’s canoe athletes finished in the top 20 and qualified for the semifinal round. Carolyn Peterson (Austin, Texas) leads the way in 12th place. Micki Reeves (Grand Junction, Colo.) and 16-year-old Hailey Thompson (Stevens Point, Wis.) followed behind at Nos. 15 and 18, respectively.

“We were really pleased how the team really stepped it up today on their second runs and put down some solid times but this event is long from being over,” Irving said. “The pressure will be high as they only have one chance to get it right to send themselves into the finals.”

The Americans competing in women’s K-1 finished just outside the cutoff and continue to gain valuable experience. Eighteen-year-old Caroline Queen (Darnestown, Md.) placed 27th while Ashley Nee (Germantown, Md.) finished 33rd. Eight seconds worth of penalties pushed Michelle Kvanli (San Marcos, Texas) back to 43rd place.

Teenagers Thompson, Lokken, Queen will all be competing at the Junior World Championships in France, July 8-11.

La Seu de Urgell represents the second stop on the three-city, three-week World Cup tour leading up to the Junior and Senior World Championships. For complete results of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Spain, visit http://canoeslalomseu.parcolimpic.com.

USA Canoe/Kayak is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Canoe Federation. It governs the Olympic disciplines of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and sanctions Freestyle, Marathon, Outrigger, Wildwater, Kayak Polo, Dragon Boat and Canoe Sailing in the United States. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web at www.usack.org.