Sprinters eye world cup

A host of NSWIS athletes were in the medals at the 2013 Australian Canoe Sprint Championships in Perth, with three eligible for berths on the Australian world cup team.

Jo Brigden-Jones headlined the results over the weekend, winning two gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Individually the 2012 Olympian took bronze in the women’s K1 500m and gold in the women’s K1 200m, before teaming with fellow NSWIS athlete Naomi Flood to win gold in the women’s K4 500m.

Brigden-Jones also claimed silver in the women’s K2 500m, and event in which Flood won gold with compatriot Bernadette Wallace. Flood added silver in the women’s K1 500m to her individual collection.

Olympic champions Murray Stewart and David Smith continued their winning ways as they triumphed in the men’s K4 1000m before Stewart added silver in the men’s K1 1000m and K1 500m. Smith then won gold in the men’s K2 500m event.

Smith’s brother Scott finished with silver from the men’s K4 1000m, while fellow NSWIS athlete Lachlan Tame took silver in the men’s K1 200m.

The performances of  Brigden-Jones, Stewart and Flood meant they were eligible for world cup selection following the weekend’s races, while Deandra Godoy secured her places on the Australian junior team by winning silver in the women’s under-18 K1 500m and bronze in the women’s under-18 K2 200m.