New Zealand kayakers Lisa Carrington and Caitlin Ryan have advanced straight into the A final of the K2 500 at the world canoe sprint championships in Portugal.
The defending champs were the fastest in the heats.
Lisa Carrington and Caitlin Ryan Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 © canoephotography.com / Balint Vekassy (ICF)
Carrington also advanced to the semi-finals of the K1 500. The 29-year-old qualified sixth fastest overall, before returning to the water just over an hour later to kick-start the defence of her world title with Ryan.
"It is so exciting to race her (Kozak) and Anna, we just really wanted to make top three, so we didn't have to go through a semi-final," explains Carrington. "We've got a busy weekend, so where we can we want to cut the (number of) races (we have to compete in) down. We are pretty happy."
In the women's K2 200m Kayla Imrie and Aimee Fisher impressed by qualifying second fastest into this weekend's A final.
Others to reach the semi-finals were Quaid Thompson in the men's K1 1000, Rebecca Cole in the women's K1 1000 and Kayla Imrie and Aimee Fisher in the K2 200.
Later tonight, Scott Martlew will bid to become only the second New Zealand Para-canoeist since George Thomas seven years ago to win a World Championship medal as he lines up in the KL2 200m final.
