Canada’s women’s kayak team was a force to be reckoned with as day two of the 2013 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships took place under sunny skies at the Welland International Flatwater Centre. They turned up the heat and enthralled crowds with exhilarating races and close finishes.

It was a good morning for the Canadian Team overall, with all five crews advancing to Sunday’s finals.

“The race was good.  I spoke to my coach and we figured out what had to be done and I did my job.  It’s amazing to represent Canada for the finals and I have worked hard for it.”

Madeline Schmidt, Canada - Junior Women’s K1 500

“Our start was really good. We were in the top two at the start and stayed that way for most of the race.  We did everything we could to stay up there.  It feels awesome to go directly into the finals.”

Anna Hetzler, Canada - Junior Women’s K2 500

“We took our disappointment from yesterday and turned it into a positive attitude.  We wanted to make our team proud.  We put everything we had out there on the water.”

Ailish McNulty, Canada - Junior Women’s K2 500

“We really connected as a crew and competed very well.  Our strategy for the final is to go out like we have been and nail that finish!”

Marshall Hughes, Canada - Junior Men’s K4 1000

“I really wanted to get in the finals and it’s a great feeling. My strategy for the final is to improve even more"

Katherine Trotter, Great Britain - U23 Women’s K1 500

200 metre heats

It was an action-packed afternoon.  The 200-metre sprints came fast and furious and pleased the growing crowds.  Anticipation for this weekend’s semis and finals is building at the Welland International Flatwater Centre. 

In addition to the strong performance displayed in the women's Kayak events this morning, nine Canadian crews advanced this afternoon.

Canadian Pierre-Luc Poulin, answered in Heat 5 with an amazing start and accelerated down the course to win his heat a boat length ahead of the others with a time of (00:40.23).  Poulin was pleased with his performance. “It was an amazing race: good technique, long strokes, good connection right to the finish line.” Kayaker Madeline Schmidt certainly made an impression at the WIFC today - winning both of her heats and advancing to the K1 200m semi-finals and the K1 500m Finals this weekend.

Strength and experience were evident in the U23 200 metre sprint heats.  Athletes posted fast times and photo-finish results.  2012 Canadian Olympic Team member Jason McCoombs paddled a smooth race to a 2nd place finish and advanced to the U23 C1 200 semis.

In her 3rd race of the day, Canadian Michelle Russell turned up the heat and advanced directly to the U23 Women’s K1 200 metre A-final.

Hungarian Balázs Birkás set the stage early for competition in Heat 2 and rocketed across the finish line with open water with a time of (00:39.73).

Download results

Day 1	Day 2

Links

• Website: http://www.canoeniagara.ca/site/home
• Results: http://canoeniagara.spotfokus.pt/results
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