Kate Leverett had her second top-ten finish for the week as she continued to surprise herself at the ICF canoe marathon world championships in Shaoxing, China, on Saturday.
Leverett finished a hard-fought seventh in the women’s K1, to add to her seventh in the inaugural short course marathon race on Thursday at her first world championships since having a second baby.
“I really just can’t expect anything more of myself this year,” Leverett said.
“I worked really hard in the race, and did everything I could to get there. I’m quite surprised where I’m at this year so soon after having my littleist.
“This is my first world championships where I’ve actually made the lead group from the start, so I feel strong and I felt really good out there. I probably just didn’t have the burns in my arms early on to stay there, so I just had to wait and regroup and try and build my way back.”
Leverett also had to overcome a finger infection in the lead-up to this week’s world championships, so is already looking forward to returning next year with a strong lead-up.
“There was probably a little bit of doubt in my mind about how I would go this week, and throughout the year to be honest,” she said.
“I didn’t have huge expectations, I’ve got a fifth before so I knew I could do it, I just didn’t know if I could get back to that standard.
“I’ve gained so much inspiration from being among the pack and getting back to this level of racing. I can absolutely improve on so many things and hopefully come back next year even stronger.”
Australian 2019 canoe marathon champion Tegan Fraser finished 12th.
Josh Kippin fell victim to a scrappy men’s K1 race, finding himself caught up in two collisions which shuffled him back through the field. He fought his way back from near last to finish 16th.
“I had a pretty good start, but I had people crash from left and right at the same time, and I was involved in at least two collisions and got spat out the back,” he said.
“I just tried to make the best of a bad situation. You just have to adapt as quickly as possible. I’m happy with the rest of the race, I’m ready for K2 tomorrow.”
Fellow Australian Michael Leverett finished 22nd.
In the women’s C1, Reka Abraham finished ninth, another top ten finish after her tenth place in the C1 short-course on Thursday.
“I caught the start pretty well, the portages felt really good, it was a good race,” Abraham said.
“It was good to see so many girls here, the field is getting stronger and stronger, a lot of countries I’ve never raced before.
“The conditions were perfect, I had a good boat, I couldn’t have asked for better.”
The 2019 ICF canoe marathon world championships finishes in Shaoxing on Sunday with K2 and C2 races.
See the event website for more info: https://www.canoeicf.com/canoe-marathon-world-championships/shaoxing-2019
Follow live stream via www.canoeicf.com
Follow results here: http://shaoxing2019.spotfokus.com
Schedule Sunday:
| Sunday 20 October 2019 | |
| 10:50 | C2 Men |
| 13:30 | K2 Women |
| 11:25 | Award Ceremony – C2 Men |
| 16:35 | K2 Men |
| 14:25 | Award Ceremony – K2 Women |
| 16:45 | Award Ceremony – K2 Men |
| Closing Ceremony | |
Results Paddle Australia Team – 2019 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships
| Name (State) | Event 1 | Event 2 | Event 3 |
| Joshua Kippin (WA) | MK1 – Short Course: 6th | MK1: 16th | MK2 |
| Michael Leverett (VIC) | MK1: 22nd | ||
| Jesse Phillips (WA) | MK2 | ||
| Isaac Johnson (VIC) | MK2 | ||
| Hamish Young (VIC) | U23 MK1: 18th | MK2 | |
| Brendan Clarke (VIC) | U23 MK1: 16th | ||
| Joseph Burton (NSW) | U18 MK1: 25th | U18 MK2: 16th | |
| Chad Wiese (WA) | U18 MK2: 16th | ||
| Reka Abraham (VIC) | WC1 – Short Course: 10th | WC1: 9th | |
| Tegan Fraser (QLD) | WK1: 12th | ||
| Kate Leverett (VIC) | WK1 – Short Course: 7th | WK1: 7th | |
| Hannah Scott (VIC) | WK1 – Short Course: 16th | U23 WK1: 13th | K2 |
| Rebecca Mann (VIC) | WK2 | ||
| Laura Lee (NSW) | WK2 | ||
| Naomi Johnson (NSW) | WK2 | ||
| Alana Johnson (VIC) | U23 WK1: 12th | ||
| Emily O’Rourke (VIC) | U18 WK1: 17th | U18 WK2: 19th | |
| Madeleine Lamb (VIC) | U18 WK1: 23rd | U18 WK2: 19th |
