Dane Jackson recovered from leaving his paddle behind on his opening ride and sister Emily broke through for gold on the final day of the ICF Canoe Freestyle series in Columbus, Georgia, with Japanese teenager Nanese Okazaki and American teenager Makinley Kate Hargrove picking up more titles.
32-year-old Emily Jackson, who won her last world title in 2015, pulled off a major upset in beating red-hot favourite Ottilie Robinson-Shaw in the women’s kayak final. Jackson posted a score of 590 to inflict the first defeat on Robinson-Shaw in 2022.
American teammate Darby McAdams delivered a 373.33 ride to also finish ahead of the Brit, with Robinson-Shaw (345) finishing with the bronze. However the three-time world champion did take gold in the women’s canoe decked final.
Dane Jackson left his paddle behind on his first ride and didn’t post a score, but delivered 1598.33 at his second attempt, which was enough to secure the gold. Great Britain’s Robert Crowe with 1286.67 finished second, while Mason Hargrove’s final ride on 1223.33 was enough to take bronze.
Nanese Okazaki has enjoyed his time in Columbus, picking up two junior world cup golds, his latest on Sunday with a 50-point win over New Zealand’s Matteo Williams. Okazaki’s gold medal ride totaled 665 points, Williams finished with 615 and Finland’s Onni Eronen took bronze with 538.33 points.
Makinley Kate Hargrove took advantage of her local knowledge to pick up her second gold for the week in Columbus. On Sunday she posted 576.67 on her first ride, enough to secure the gold medal over Canada’s Sophie Gilfillan, with Great Britain’s Niamh Macken taking bronze.
In other results, American Landon Miller took gold in the men’s open canoe surface final, finishing ahead of fellow American, Seth Chapelle. Chapelle did triumph later in the day in one of the closest events, the men’s canoe decked final.
Chapelle’s opening ride of 663.33 was enough to edge out fellow American Jordan Poffenberger, who posted 643.33 on his second outing, while Dane Jackson’s 416.67 secured him the bronze. Chapelle and Poffenberger also filled the top two placings in the opening world cup.
Robinson-Shaw’s 246.67 in the women’s canoe decked final secured another gold for the 20-year-old, Sophie Gilfillan taking silver with 211.67, and another Brit, Jak Fantastic, taking bronze.
The final standings after the two world cups saw Emily Jackson ahead of Ottilie Robinson-Shaw on a countback in women’s kayak, brother Dane taking the men’s kayak honours, Robinson-Shaw in canoe, Seth Chapelle in men’s canoe surface and decked, Nanese Okazaki in men’s junior kayak, and Makinley Kate Hargrove in the women’s junior.
The two freestyle world cups serve as a test run ahead of next year’s ICF World Championships at the same venue.
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