Once again Dan headed to Europe – this time Slovakia for the 2019 Olympic Hopes Regatta, September 13 – 15. Olympic Hopes is a World Championships for 15, 16 and 17 year olds, is held annually, and rotated between Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Czech Republic. Team Leader Aaron Huston assigned him to work with the men kayakers. Cascade Team member Ashby Bodine qualified for this regatta in the 16 year old kayak events. He was first in the K1 500 B Final ranking him 10th in the World for his age. Ashby started paddling with Cascade 4 years ago and has steadily improved his training effort and race performance.
You can see video of his race at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70i7baG1JUo
The US Team had a much stronger result this year, placing 14th overall.
At the World Championships in Szeged, Hungary today, Cascade’s Lia Gaetano had a great race in the B Final, placing 7th in a time of 2:20.59, a personal record! The ranks Lia as 16 in the World in this event. Great Job Lia and we look forward to your return home.
Cascade had a great Nationals in Lanier, Georgia last week – at the 1996 Olympic venue! With just 4 athletes, we racked up personal best times and lots of medals.
In Masters events, Nandu Thanarieselvam placed 6th in K1 Masters B with a time of 6:05.352. in the 500 he placed 5th with a time of 2:51.240. Paired with his partner Christine McKinney he placed 6th in K2 Mix Masters 500 in a time of 2:30.673. And in K4 Men 500 second with a time of 2:11.659. Nandu finished out the regatta with a strong 6th in his K1 200m event with a personal record of 1:13.767.
Senior National Team member Lia Gaetano placed second in C1 Women 1000m in a time of 5:35.715. in a time of 45:10.772, she won the 5000 meter C1 race. By placing third in C1 Women 500 meters in a time of 2:33.655, she qualified to race that event at the Senior World Championships in Szeged, Hungary on August 22 – 25. Teamed with Washington (DC) Canoe Club racer Ann Armstrong, Lia placed 2nd in C2 500 with at time of 2:21.334 second in the 200 with 55.382. She won C4 500 in 2:22.073 with partners Armstong, Sampson and Schutte. In C1 200 Lia missed a personal record time by 38 thousands of a second, with a time of 55.790 placing 4th.
12 year old Aadhithyan Nandu Kumar, racing in the U14 age group also had a stellar regatta. He set personal records in all four of his K1 events and placed 3rd in the 1000 with a time of 04:48.926. 6th in 200m K1 M in a time of 0:49.854, 500m in 2:18.853 and, K1M 5000 7th in U16 with a time of 26:41.820,
Dominating the Juvenile (U16) age group, Cascade’s Ashby Bodine won all four of his K1 events and qualified to represent the United States at the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Slovakia next month. His 1000 meter winning time of 03:59.513 was 17 seconds faster than second place and 6 seconds faster than the winning time in the U18 age group. He also placed second in K4 U18 200 and 1000 and won K2 U16 200 and 1000 with partner Philip Majumdar from Rivertown Racers in Petaluma, CA. Ashby set a personal record in the K1M 200 with the winning time of 0:38.491.
This was a great regatta for our team as we continue to build our program, here in Bothell, WA on a foundation of high quality and continuously improving individual performances. Thanks to all who helped with the regatta and to Lanier for hosting. It’s always a please to visit your beautiful race course and benefit from you generous hospitality. Thanks also to Stephanie Schlitz and Shonna Lind-Schenk for their great photos. And a very Special thanks to the Spokane Canoe & kayak Club for their generous donation to help our athletes!
With 4 athletes achieving personal records, Cascade athletes finished strong at the Ted Houk Regatta in Seattle last weekend. Highlights were Aadhithyan Nandakumar with two personal records and third place finishes in U13, and Joanna Crocker in Masters over 50 years old, in kayak events. Ashby Bodine dominated U16 kayak events with wins in both single and double kayak races, as well as providing power from the 4th seat in K4 U18 for a win there as well. Now it’s on to Bellingham this weekend.
There’s still a couple of places left in the July Camp – Learn to Race Canoes & Kayaks for 10 to 13 years olds – so please register to get your place Youth beginner lessons.
Cascade’s Lia Gaetano completed a very successful World Cup tour to Poznan, Poland and Duisburg, Germany yesterday. Lia set 4 personal records and placed as high as 11th! This was Lia’s first international racing experience, with lots of lessons learned and a better understanding of the path ahead. She’s headed back home today and will be back at training on Wednesday here in Bothell. Congratulations Lia!
