Montemor-o-Velho played host to a busy opening day of racing as paddlers blew off any cobwebs to put down fast times at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships.
A total of 82 races were completed at the Portuguese venue as Hungary, Germany and Spain all enjoyed strong first days at the office.
Hungary got off to a flying start, with the men’s four kayak junior 500m team setting the tone by topping the heats.
Milan Konyecsni, Levente Jancso, Marcell Gazdag and Vilmos Szabo sealed their place in the final in a time of 1:25.26 before Individual Neutral Athletes Aliaksei Pazhyvilka, Emil Abalmasau, Ihar Yakshyn and Heorhi Varazhun went even faster with 1:24.68.
Click here for startlists and live results from Montemor-o-Velho
Other impressive performances from the Hungarians came from Milan Gyanyi in the men’s canoe single junior 500m, Vanda Matkovics and Petra Laura Paragi in the women’s canoe double junior 500m, Vivien Lesko in the women’s K1 junior 1000m and Luca Panna Poszipischil and Lena Hamar in the women’s C2 200m.
Eszter Julia Rendessy topped her heat in the women’s K1 U23 500m as she aims to add a world title to her age-group European crown.
“I am happy but I am very nervous as the hard races are to come,” said Rendessy, who advanced to the semi-final.
“The European Championships was really difficult as the girls are so fast and strong.
“I am never over optimistic but my challenge is to enjoy the race and do my best.”
The men’s K4 U23 500m looks set to be a fascinating with Hungary, Germany and Spain all gaining direct qualification into the final after topping their respective heats.
There were plenty of reasons for the German team to be happy after their paddlers posted a series of good times.
Ivana Schuck, Femke Rupf, Nele Reinwardt and Nathalie Lange posted the quickest time of 1:39.28 in the women’s K4 junior 500m heats, while fellow German quartet Lena Roehlings, Finja Hermanussen, Ricka Kuinke and Jette Brucker looked strong in the women’s K4 U23 500m heats.
Maike Jakob and Hedi Moana Kliemke starred in the women’s C2 U23 heats, Nele Reinwardt powered clear in the women’s K1 junior 1000m heats and Caroline Heuser launched her defence of her women’s K1 junior 500m crown.
Pepe Schroeter was another German paddler to shine as he placed first in his men’s K1 junior 500m heat.
“It was a good race for me,” said Schroeter.
“I have got good power in the boat.
“It’s okay to win the heat so we will see on Friday how things go.
“Our team is really good. We will see what happens over the next few days.”
For Spain, Adrian Del Rio registered the fastest time in the men’s K1 U23 1000m and Angels Moreno and Viktoriia Yarchevska came flying out of the blocks in the women’s C2 U23 500m heats.
Italy’s Gabriele Casadei was another top performer on day one as he progressed to the final in the men’s C1 U23 500m before advancing to the men’s C1 U23 1000m semi-final later in the day.
Jonas Ecker of the United States marked his return to racing with a time of 3:42.71 to secure a place in the semi-finals of the men’s K1 U23 1000m as he seeks to defend his title.
“This was my first race internationally since the Paris Olympics so there was definitely some cobwebs to blow away,” said Ecker.
“This is a fun venue and it’s been good to see a big crowd here, especially some guys who skipped last year coming back from the Olympics.
“It’s a fast field and fun to be out there.
“I want to put down the best times I can.
“It’s crazy (to be the defending champion).
“It definitely gives me some confidence but like I said there are a lot of fast guys here.”
Pictures by Bence Vekassy
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