2009 USA Canoe Kayak National Championships - Day 2

Day two of the 2009 USA Canoe Kayak Sprint National Championships is complete. Athletes from all over the US met this morning to compete in the 500 meter events, which were held on the site of the 1996 Centennial Olympic paddling & rowing events.

Today's action saw cooler weather, more fast times, and VERY close finishes.

Day three features 200 meter heats and races, and distance events. The racing program starts back up at 8am EST.

The event was broadcast live via The LCKC Channel with a couple of interruptions due to technical difficulties with our Internet feed. This is an emerging technology and we've had almost 40,000 different users watch the event over the last 2 days. If we had that many people visit our venue this week, imagine the traffic jam! We have our techie fingers crossed that tomorrow's events will be covered without interruption.

Video from today's races have been posted to the On Demand Library at The LCKC Channel, and are also being rebroadcasted on our video loop for those who may have missed it.

All of today's official results at Powerhouse Timing.

Once again, LCKC wishes to extend our thanks to all the teams, coaches, officials, and volunteers that contributed to making this year's Nationals possible. Good luck tomorrow!

2009 USA Canoe Kayak National Championships - Day 1

Day one of the 2009 USA Canoe Kayak Sprint National Championships is complete. Athletes from all over the US met this morning to compete in the 1000 meter events, which were held on the site of the 1996 Centennial Olympic paddling & rowing events.

Today's action saw some suprising wins, fast times, and special moments. (when's the last time you saw a 7-year old complete a 1000m race?) LCKC is proud to have the opportunity to host this year's event, and if today's events are any indication of what's to come, we're all in for a great Nationals. Day two features 500 meter heats and races. The racing program starts back up at 8am EST.

The event was broadcast live via The LCKC Channel with a couple of interruptions due to technical difficulties with our Internet feed. We apologise for the disruption and we are taking steps to insure that future problems are less likely to occur.

Video from the morning and afternoon sessions have been posted to the On Demand Library at The LCKC Channel. Today's races are also being rebroadcasted on our video loop for those who may have missed it.

All of today's official results at Powerhouse Timing.

LCKC wishes to extend our thanks to all the teams, coaches, officials, and volunteers that contributed to making this year's Nationals possible. Good luck everyone!

US Team reports from 2009 Jr. Worlds in Moscow: Day 2 - 1000m Semis

Here's more from Cheryl in Moscow - via Mac Hickox:

DAY 2 — SATURDAY, AUGUST1 — MORNING REPORT

1000M SEMI FINALS

6:50 — Coach Barlow, Ben Hefner, Ian Ross and I leave the hotel for our 15 minute walk to the boat house

7:20 — Ben goes to the water for his pre race paddle

WEATHER — clear blue sky & “dead calm”

MOOD — the atmosphere is changing – some athletes are still competing while others are out – the semi finals have been announced and some are “harder” than others BUT all are very demanding – some countries will be battling for placement into the ‘A’ Finals while others will fight to get into the ‘B’ Final.

In the end it will be about your time – there will be very few surprises – times that have been posted throughout the year, see some improvement BUT 10, 15 and 20 second improvements in the last six weeks will not occur.

8:35 — Ben clears Boat Debarkation & heads up the course to SF #1 with top 3 to ‘A’ Final / 4 - 7 to ‘B’ Final / with next best time from either semi final also going to ‘B’ Final — Rest Out – his goal is the ‘B’ Final – it will be very competitive – he will have a battle to make the ‘B’ Final BUT it is doable

Rest of the team arrives with Coach Anderson. Chris Miller and Zach Robertson have secured the video camera and long range camera and are off to the grandstand – their assistance is appreciated

MK2 — have gone to the water for a pre race paddle

Wk2 — have gone to the water for a pre race paddle

9:00 — SF #1 – Lane # 9 Ben Hefner USA – finishes 9^th in a time of 4:36.198 / 1^st place is 4:13.913 from Kazakhstan – this athlete raced at the Beijing Olympics in C1

Japan was 7^th in 4:26.550 and 8^th place was 4:28.528 – Ben is eliminated.

Reaching the dock he was emotionally upset – he did not have his best performance and in this arena, that is all you can ask of yourself – a personal best must be brought when it counts – this morning it counted.

10:00 — MK2 – final prep period is on – Luke and Cedric are now loosening up near the boat – a few final reminders of the progression – it is strictly by position – Top 3 to ‘A’ Final / 4 – 6 to ‘B’ Final.

They race well and execute their plan to perfection – they are exhausted as they paddle to Boat Control – they are elated as they should be they have just done a personal best and finished 6^th – they are in the ‘B’ Final with a time of 3:29.630 / Japan was 5^thwith a 3:28.811 – in the SF #1 – 4^th was Iran in 3:28.070 and 5^th Ukraine was 3:29.527. SF # 3 – Great Britain was 5^th with a 3:28.031, while Slovakia was 6^th in 3:30.742

It is exciting for the whole team to see a crew perform so well. It will be a great B final at 3:36 this afternoon.

10:40 — WK2 – Chelsea Smith and Katy Hill are now headed to the Boat Debarkation – they are quiet but determined – they are reminded of the progression and the need to bring all they have. “Get ‘er done” is the last thing they hear – Chelsea smiles broadly.

Their performance although raced according to their plan places them in 9^th in their SF with a time of 4:06.256 – they are out of the 1000m competition – 8^th was Iran in a time of 4:04.381 and 7^th was from Japan with 4:03.436 and 6^th Belarus – 4:00.393. In the SF # 1 – Poland was 1^st in 3:52.369 / 1^st in SF #2 was Germany in 3:50.367

This morning dramatically showed all countries how competitive the ICF Junior World Championships have become. Our time standards are very relevant for USA to continue to attain – Luke Potts and Cedric Bond will carry the stars and stripes into our only final this afternoon. As Cedric Bond stood tall on opening night as our flag bearer – he and his partner Luke Potts will do us proud this afternoon

Mac Hickox
National Development Director
USA Canoe Kayak