Dartmouth natives Maria Halavrezos and Jenna Marks spent more time on the podium than any other Canadians at the world sprint canoe-kayak championships yesterday.
Although their efforts didn’t count toward the overall medal count or point standings, Halavrezos and Marks won gold together in a pair of exhibition events, the women’s C-2 200 and 500 metres, while Marks won gold in the C-1 200.
Women’s canoe has yet to gain internationally popularity, and the hometown girls won on Lake Banook in a landslide.
“We wanted to win,” Halavrezos said after the C-2 500. “In a way, yes, I wish it had been a little bit closer, but I’m very pleased with second and beyond, how close they were.”
OLYMPIC PREVIEW? Andrew Willows of Gananoque, Ont., and Richard Dober Jr. of Trois-Rivieres, Que., won bronze in the K-2 200 metres yesterday. It was announced last week the event would be added to the 2012 Olympics.
Willows described he and Dober as “natural sprinters,” making the 200 a good fit for them going forward.
“Knowing that that’s now an Olympic event, we’re pretty stoked. We can build on that,” he said.
OVERBOARD Halifax’s Richard Dalton had one of the more interesting finishes yesterday, going overboard as he made one final push for a medal in the C-1 200. He came sixth in the tight race and was helped off by a rescue boat.
“I just tried to finish the last few strokes as hard as I could and shoot to the line,” he said. “I guess I did that, but sixth place was way off what I was hoping to do.”
