Mark de Jonge (photo: Michael Hall, Canadian Olympic Committee)
WELLAND, ON – The Canadian Men’s K4 1000m crew opened up the second day of competition at the Welland International Flatwater Centre with a fourth place finish at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. The crew of Brady Reardon (Burlington, ON), Andrew Jessop (Halifax, NS), Pierre-Luc Poulin (Lac Beauport, QC), and Philippe Duchesneau (Sherbrooke, QC) who had podium goals could not help but feel disappointed in finishing just off the podium in a competitive field.
The Cuban Men’s K4 1000m crew took gold, with Brazil following with the silver and Argentina taking bronze. The Canadian K4 crew will refocus for the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships taking place August 19 to 23 in Milan, Italy. The World Championships will be the only opportunity to qualify a K4 for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Ten boats will earn Olympic berths and representation is needed from four continents. A top finish among Pan American countries at World Championships would put the Canadian crew in a likely spot to qualify the boat for 2016.
Three Canadian athletes raced heats in the 200m events and all three achieved a top three result needed to advance directly to the final. Mark de Jonge of Halifax, NS comfortably won his heat in the Men’s K1 200m and posted the fastest time. Jason McCoombs of Dartmouth, NS also took the top spot in his heat and advanced in the Men’s C1 200m. Michelle Russell of Fall River, NS was second in the Women’s K1 200m heat to Cuba’s Yusmari Mengana. All three will race 200m finals on Tuesday.
Jason McCoombs (photo: Michael Hall, Canadian Olympic Committee)
Monday’s program includes 1000 and 500m metre finals with Mark Oldershaw of Burlington, ON preparing for the Men’s C1 1000m. Adam van Koeverden of Oakville, ON will race the Men’s K1 1000m. Gabriel Beauchesne-Sévigny (Trois-Rivières, QC) and Ben Russell (Dartmouth, NS) will line up in the Men’s C2 1000m. Andrew Jessop (Halifax, NS) and Brady Reardon (Burlington, ON) will battle back in the Men’s K2 1000m and Michelle Russell will take a shot at her second medal of the Games in the Women’s K1 500m.
CanoeKayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. The organization’s vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions. From supporting clubs to developing a competitive National Team, CanoeKayak Canada works to grow a sport which is a rich part of Canada’s heritage.
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For more information
Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca