What a way to start the 2nd day of the World Cup in Poznan, it really was a great continuation from yesterday as many of the previous day’s contenders solidified their position by claiming positions on the podium. One cannot underestimate the effect the head winds had on the morning’s races and many of the times posted were slower than they would have been under normal conditions.
It was under such conditions that the Women’s K1 1000m event started. Natalya Sergeyeva (KAZ) opened Kazakhstan’s World Cup account by winning Gold. She was followed in the distance by local girl Edyta Dzieniszewska (POL) with Silver and Agnes Brun-Lie (NOR) with Bronze. It is worth mentioning that Jo Bridgen-Jones (AUS), who usually does well in this event, came in fourth. She later explained to the ICF that this World Cup in Poznan is really a bid to get her stride back after an off season spent recovering from surgery. “I want to take it a race at a time” she said. “I want to work towards the World Championships in Szeged where I hope to see a greater improvement in my race time.”
In the Women’s K2 1000m, credit has to be handed over to the Belgians, and in fact the entire delegation as the team experienced a Bronze medal in this event. Ahead of the two ladies were the two Polish duos of Pawelczak and Krukowska who claimed Silver and the winners Naja and Wardowicz; a good start for the host nation.
The Women’s K1 500m was won by German Nicole Reinhardt who dominated the race along with Alana Nicholls (AUS) who came in second. Sofia Paldanius (SWE) came in a not so distant third, but it was Olympic Champion Inna Osypenko-Radomska (UKR) that was the surprising fourth as she was always a contender during the race but could not break into the winning pack of the three up front. Another disappointed finalist was Teresa Portela (POR) who felt she has had a slow start to the season and that the head winds did have an impact on her race. She said, “I have to train harder this year and do well in the next World Cups, especially in the World Championships, and qualify for London 2012!”
Teresa Portela (POR) was much happier later in the day, as her K4 500m crew took second place in the Final, with the Belarus women claiming their first medal of the competition with third place and the overall winners being the very strong local team from Poland.
It was round about the time for the Portuguese team to be rewarded with a Gold medal in this World Cup as they were one of the most improved teams from last season and had produced some good results so far this weekend. Two Belarus kayaks came through after winning Silver and Bronze!
That brings a close to the medal competitions for Saturday; Belarus leads the table with 6 medals, host country Poland with 4 and Portugal with 3 medals. It has been a great morning of competition and the first medals of the World Cup series have been settled. Keep checking www.canoeicf.com for further news updates and results! Afternoon Update
After a short break at midday, the 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup picked up later with cooler temperatures and more wind.
For the Women’s K1 200m, Reinhardt (GER) and Waiczyiewiccz (POL) also qualified directly into the Final, with Portela (POR) and Osyrenko-Radomska (UKR) ensuring the Final will be a replay of Women’s K1 500m race.
Going to the Women’s K2 200m, Lovell and McGinny (AUS) and Roos and Eerde (NED) both qualified directly to the Finals. Finally, in the Women’s K2 500m, Mikolalczyk and Konieczna (POL) and Schuring and Schwarz (AUT) won their races and are tipped to be on the podium tomorrow.
