Friday Sprint Nationals Recap, OKC Paddler Dylan Pucket Wins in K1

On of Oklahoma’s home-grown talents took home a national championship today. Dylan Puckett of Jones, Oklahoma, won gold in the Men’s K-1 Bantam 1,000-meter race today at the USA Canoe/Kayak Spring National Championships on the Oklahoma River. This is the first sprint national championship gold medal to be won by a member of the OKCRIVERSPORT Canoe/Kayak Team.

In addition to winning the K-1 event, Pucket partnered with a Gig Harbor (Seattle) Canoe Club athlete to take bronze in the Men’s K-2 Bantam 1,000 meter event. He and another Gig Harbor Canoe Club athlete raced up an age category to take 4^th in the Men’s K-2 Juvenile 1,000 meter event as well. In his final race Friday, Puckett joined three athletes from the San Diego Canoe/Kayak Club to take silver in the Men’s K-4 Bantam 1,000 meter race.

The next chance for Pucket to medal comes Saturday in the Men’s K-2 Bantam 3,000 meter, and Men’s K1 Junior 200 meter events.

Athletes from across the country are in Oklahoma City competing in the USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint National Championships, with some senior and junior athletes qualifying for the 2010 Pan Am Championships in Mexico City October 8-10.

In the 1,000 meter events, qualifying athletes include Morgan House of Lake Lanier (Georgia) Canoe/Kayak Club, who won the Men’s Senior K1 event and Ryan Dolan of the Hawaii Canoe & Kayak Team, who took second in the same event.

Luke Potts and Zachary Robertson of Lake Lanier Canoe/Kayak Club, who came one-two in the Men’s Junior K-1 have both qualified, while on the Women’s Junior K-1 side Morgan Smith of Lake Lanier Canoe/Kayak Club and Katy Hill of Gig Harbor Canoe Club qualified as well.

Additionally, national championships were awarded in 1,000 meter events in all age categories. Visit powerhousetiming.com for complete results.

To download official press release click here.

Saturday events include 3,000 and 5,000 meter distance races as well as 200 meter sprints.