MILAN, ITALY – Erica Scarff of Toronto, ON finished seventh in the final today in the Women’s KL3 200m at the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships today. Scarff, competing at her first World Championships, was just one spot away from qualifying Canada a second quota spot for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. There is an additional opportunity to qualify Paralympic quota spots at next year’s Paracanoe World Championships in Duisiburg, Germany next May. A top-four result among nations that have not already qualified is needed next year. Paracanoe will make its Paralympic debut in 2016.

Olympic bronze medalist Mark Oldershaw of Burglinton, ON qualified for the final of the Men’s C1 1000m on Saturday with a second place finish in his semi. The top two of each of the four semi-finals plus the next fastest time advanced. Martin Fuksa of the Czech Republic held the lead in Oldershaw’s semi, as Oldershaw and Russia’s Ilya Shtokalov battled it out for second most of the way down the course. In the end Oldershaw prevailed with a margin of 0.34 of a second over Shtokalov. Oldershaw needs a top six result in the final on Saturday to secure Canada an Olympic quota spot in the event.

The Men’s K2 200m crew of Ryan Cochrane (Windsor, NS) and Hugues Fournel (Montréal, QC) made it through to the final with the fourth overall fastest time in the semi-finals. They finished third in their semi and the advancement was top-two plus the next fastest time. Canada needs a top six result in Saturday’s final for Olympic quota qualification.

In the Women’s C2 500m, Katie Vincent (Mississauga, ON) and Nadya Crossman-Serb (Winnipeg, MB) won their semi-final to advance to Saturday’s final. The Women’s C2 is a non-Olympic event so no quota spots are up for grabs.

Jason McCoombs of Dartmouth, NS was third in the semi-final of the Men’s C1 200m. McCoombs, a 2012 Olympian in the event, needed a top-two result or next fastest time to get through to the A-final and will race the B-final on Saturday.

Michelle Russell of Fall River, NS was fourth in the Women’s K1 500m and will race the B-final on Saturday. Tomorrow Russell will race heat and semi-final of the K1 200m.

Rob Clarke (Mississauga, ON) and Brian Malfesi (Maple Ridge, BC) finished fourth in the Men’s K2 1000m semi-final and advanced to Saturday’s B-final.

Genevieve Orton (Lake Echo, NS) and Una Lounder (Dartmouth, NS) raced the Women’s K2 500m and finished eighth in their semi. They did not advance today but will race the K2 200m tomorrow. Andrew Jessop of Halifax, NS raced the Men’s K1 1000m and finished up ninth in the semi-final.

Tomorrow, the Men’s K1 200m heats and semi-finals will include World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Mark de Jonge of Halifax, NS. Ben Russell (Dartmouth, NS) and Gabriel Beauchesne-Sévigny (Trois-Rivières, QC) are slated to race the Men’s C2 1000m heat and semi.

There is record participation with five heats of Women’s C1 200m tomorrow and eight-time World Champion Laurence Vincent-Lapointe of Trois-Rivières, QC will represent Canada.

The Women’s K4 500m and Men’s K4 1000m crews will race their heats. Competition runs through to Sunday.

Summary of Results

Full Results

Video

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.

-30-

Media Contact:

Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca