Paddling it Out

Kayakers battle for spots on Olympic whitewater slalom team at Rio Vista

From staff reports

San Marcos — Sunday was a busy day at the new Rio Vista Whitewater Park.

Forty-five athletes traveled from all over the country to compete in the first Olympic Whitewater Slalom Team Trials Qualifying Events of the 2008 season. Twelve earned the right to move to the next round of competition for selection to the United States Olympic Team, which will be held April 25-27 in Charlotte, N.C. The event was also a qualifier for the Junior Olympics, which will be held in Wisconsin in July.

Heather Corey flew in from Manchester, England and put on a dazzling show of technique for the 300+ spectators. She blazed down the challenging fast-flowing course with a total score of 175.2 seconds.

Corey has dual citizenship for the USA and UK, learning to race slalom in America as a junior, then going on to win six world championship medals for Great Britain. She is now competing for a slot on the United States Olympic Team, and is a strong contender for a medal at the Olympics this summer in Beijing.

Austin Kiefer from Ashville, North Carolina turned in a powerful performance in Men's Kayak — the fastest score of the day at 149.0 seconds.

“With this event, we've successfully announced to the canoeing world that we have this beautiful warm-water whitewater park, and that it's really worth it for people to come here for winter training and competitions,” Michelle Kvanli of Power Olympic Outdoor said.

Results for the Olympic Team Trials Qualifier Event:

(winners, their hometown, and their combined score for

two runs (times

plus penalties)

Womens Kayak

Heather Corey (Manchester, England / 175.2)

Jessica Subido (Granite Bay, California /

185.4)

Kristen Bierle (Boise, Idaho / 240.1)

Men's Kayak

Austin Kiefer (Ashville, North Carolina /

149.0)

Pablo McCandless (Charlotte, North Carolina

/ 153.7)

Ben Kvanli (San Marcos, Texas / 158.8)

Canoe (Single)

Tyler Hinton (Lafayette, Colorado / 188.2)

Matt Fritz (Dallas, Texas / 244.2)

Laura Egerdal (Saint Louis, Missouri /

304.0)

Canoe (Doubles)

Ben Kvanli and Mark Poindexter (San Marcos

and Austin, Texas / 193.7)

Tyler Hinton and Will Grubb (Lafayette,

Colorado / 305.0)

1918 - #33, Ben Kvanli and Mark Poindexter, 1st place, Doubles Canoe

Olympic Whitewater Team Trials Qualifying

Women’s Kayak

1. Heather Corey (Manchester, England / 175.2)

2. Jessica Subido (Granite Bay, California / 185.4)

3. Kristen Bierle (Boise, Idaho / 240.1)

Men’s Kayak

1. Austin Kiefer (Ashville, North Carolina / 149.0)

2. Pablo McCandless (Charlotte, North Carolina / 153.7)

3. Ben Kvanli (San Marcos / 158.8)

Canoe (Single)

1. Tyler Hinton (Lafayette, Col. / 188.2)

2. Matt Fritz (Dallas/ 244.2)

3. Laura Egerdal (Saint Louis, Missouri / 304.0)

Canoe (Doubles)

1. Ben Kvanli and Mark Poindexter (San Marcos and Austin, Texas / 193.7)

2. Tyler Hinton and Will Grubb (Lafayette, Colorado / 305.0)