By KCKC

KCKC Athletes Compete at Junior National Team Trials in Montreal

Jul 14, 2018 | 10:02 AM

Two Kamloops Sprint Kayak athletes were recently in Montreal to compete at the Junior National Team Trials held at Montreal’s Olympic Basin. Aiden Tabata and Spencer Robinson (both 18) competed in the individual 200 and 500 meter sprints and with Robinson also racing in the 1000 meter event. The duo raced in qualifying heats of mixed age groups which included Senior National Team members and Olympians in each of the heats. “The National Team Trials are some of the hardest races that you can ever have, the competitors go all out, often pushing themselves physically way beyond what they have done before. They all want one of those six spots on the national team” said KCKC Coach Stanislav Marek. “We saw one guy ‘black out’ after he crossed the finish line. The safety boat had to pull him out of the water.” Tabata and Robinson were able to achieve level 3 and 4 time standards (used for provincial athlete carding) and advanced to 3 semi finals in both the 200 and 1000m distances.