Australians continued to perform strongly at the ICF Canoe Sprint U23 and Junior World Championships in Bulgaria overnight, and there’s more medal chances on Sunday.
Although no Paddle Australia athletes made it through to A finals in Plovdiv on Saturday, several turned in strong performances in minor finals in a good sign for the future.
Josie Bulmer (SA) finished a close second in the B final of the women’s U23 C1 200, while Yale Steinepreis (WA) was fifth in the women’s K1 U23 200 metres.
Jesse Kneebone-Ellis (SA) was second in the C final of the of the junior men’s K1 200, Ethan Neville (NSW) was eighth in his K1 men’s U23 200, and Mackenzie Duffy (QLD) was ninth in the K1 women’s junior 200.
Several Australians have qualified for semi-finals on Sunday in Plovdiv, including the men’s U23 K4 500 crew. The team of Jayden Ellis (SA), Joel McKitterick (QLD), Thomas Green (QLD) and Simon McTavish (NSW) finished third in their semi.
Ellis watched McKitterick and Green win gold and McTavish take silver on Friday, and said he is itching to get his chance.
But he has been nursing a hand injury which has severely restricted his preparation.
“We haven’t trained in the K4 because my hand’s been broken the whole time,” Ellis said.
“I can’t do push-ups, but I can paddle, so that’s all that counts.
“We’re really feeling good out here, such a good Australian team. I couldn’t be any luckier, being in this boat with the boys.”
The junior K4 men’s 500 metre team of Daniel Kucharski (SA), Jesse Kneebone-Ellis (SA), Harrison Armstrong (NSW) and Thomas Hughes (NSW) finished fifth in their heat, Carter Brodhurst-Hill (QLD) was fifth in his junior K1 500 heat, and Tiarnee Massie (QLD) and Mackenzie Duffy (QLD) were fifth in their heat of the junior women’s K2 500.
Keily Dober’s (NSW) steep learning curve, finishing sixth in her U23 K1 500 semi to progress to Sunday’s semi-finals.
“I’m so stoked to make the semis, that was my goal for the K1 500,” Dober said.
“K4 for us was the main event we were preparing for, now we’ve each got individual races that I think are bonuses for everyone.
“500’s not my best, it’s not how I made the team, but to be able to race on the world stage, it’s incredible and I’m stoked to have made the semi.”
Shannon Reynolds (WA) and Brianna Massie (QLD) looked strong in finishing fourth in their U23 K2 500 semi, while Chris Kither will also see semi-final action after finishing sixth in his heat of the U23 K1 men’s 500.
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Photo credit: Christine Duff & Susan Hughes
