Oklahoma City – USA Canoe/Kayak National Championships, Day 4

We raced just two events today to wrap up the 2016 USA Canoe/Kayak National Championships. Cascade’s Andreea Ghizila raced the C-1 Women Under 16 200 meters and placed second to Seattle’s Nevin Harrison with a time of 00:54.44 – just two tenths behind. Cascade’s last race of the day was C-1 Men Masters Over 60, where Dan Henderson won in a time of 1:06.88, 44 seconds ahead of San Diego rival Bob Hahn.
The day was topped off at the evening awards banquet, where Ghizila was named to the Olympic Hopes Regatta Team. She will join the top thirty, up and coming USA Team athletes to compete in this World Championships for 15, 16 and 17year olds, to be held in Szeged, Hungary in September.
“We’re very excited that Andreea was selected to the Olympic Hopes team. The Szeged race course is one of the best in the world, where she get her first exposure to international racing,” commented Cascade Head Coach, Dan Henderson. Cascade was also recognized as the 10th ranked club in the United States. 

Cascade’s Strongest Showing – Medals for All
Cascade Canoe & Kayak Racing Team Athletes took to the water and then to the podium today. Of the nine events raced today, Cascade athletes brought home 3 Bronze, 2 silver and 4 gold, led by Under 16 canoeist Andree Ghizila.
The highlight of the regatta continues to be the stellar performance of canoeist Andreea Ghizila. Dominating the Under 16 C-1 (Canoe Single) 500 meters, Ghizila finished over six seconds ahead of second place, winning in a time of 2:23.72. This win solidified her USA Team qualification for the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Szeged, Hungary in September.
Teaming with three other young women, Olivia Crocker, Anna Martinson and Nani Woodard from Gig Harbor, Ghizila finished second to the Seattle powerhouse C-4 (Canoe Four Person) in Under 18 500 meters in a time of 2:16.88. In a dominating performance and winning by nearly 14 seconds ahead of their Georgia rival, Ghizila and partner Olivia Crocker raced the C-2 500 meters in a time of 2:16.88.
In Under 16 C-2 200 meters action, Ghizila teamed with Gig Harbor partner Alyson Chiou to win in a time of 56.52, nearly 8 seconds ahead of second place Seattle.
The upset of the day came in C-2 Women Junior 500 meters where Ghizila and partner Olivia Crocker upset Seattle reigning National Champions Murphy and Neutz by a very close .71 seconds in a time of 2:18.82.
US National Team Head Coach Claudiu Ciur had high praise for Ghizila. “Andreea has strong technical skills and competitive spirit. We look forward to seeing her continue to develop in the years to come.”
In Masters Over 60 racing, Joanna Crocker and Dan Henderson teamed up in K-2 (kayak two person) Mixed 500 meters in a time of 2:58.33 for a silver medal. In 500 meters K-1 Joanna won bronze in a time of 3:40.92 and another bronze in the 5000 meters distance event. Also in Masters Over 60, Henderson finished third in K-1 500 with a time of 3:43.92 and second in the 5000 meters
“Today all three of our team members medaled in every event they entered. It was one of strongest showings in Cascade history,” exclaimed Cascade Head Coach, Dan Henderson. Joanna really stepped up and found another gear, while Andreea is the talk of the regatta, displaying her strong technical skills, endurance and competitive heart.”

It was a day of close races at the USA Canoe/Kayak National Championships for Cascade Canoe & Kayak Racing Team members Andreea Ghizila (under 18 sprint canoeist) and Joanna Crocker (masters over 60 sprint kayaker).
Ghizila started the day with a grueling 1000 meters in singles canoe. It was a tight race with a time of 5:43.100 – less than a second’s gap behind Seattle’s Nevin Harrison. The Ghizila/Harrison battle continued with …Ghizila winning the 5000 meter race yesterday. With her powerful 1000 meter finish, Ghizila qualified for the USA Team headed toward the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Szeged, Hungary in September.
Later in the day, Ghizila teamed with Gig Harbor’s Alyson Chiou in the under 16 Two-person Canoe 500 meters to narrowly defeat the Georgia team of Brunson and Farley-Klacik with a time of 2:27.69, earning Ghizila her second National title in two days. Again teaming with the Gig Harbor Club, Ghizila placed second in the Under 18 Four-Person Canoe 500 meters, just .33 seconds behind the Seattle winners.
Meanwhile, Masters started racing today and Cascade’s Joanna Crocker had a strong showing in Masters Over 60 Two-Person Kayak 500 meters placing second with a time of 3:04.14, and third in Masters Over 30 in Four-Person Kayak 500 meters.
“We had a very strong showing today at two ends of the age group spectrum. Joanna really helped her team pull out two strong showings in K-2 and K-4. Andreea reached her goal of qualifying for the Olympic Hopes Regatta and earned two silver and her second gold medals. I’m very proud of them both,” remarked Cascade Head Coach Dan Henderson.

In a stunning effort, Andreea Ghizila, Bothell’s Cascade Canoe & Kayak Racing Team, won The US National Championships in Under 16 Women Single Canoe 5000 meters in 31:26.9, a full minute and twenty-three seconds ahead of second place Nevin Harrison from Seattle. Ghizila powered out of the start to lead by open water after the first 250 meters. Throughout the rest of the race she steadily increased her lead.
“Andreea’s excellent preparation for this event earned her the strong showing here in Oklahoma City. We’re looking forward to seeing her race over the next three days with hopes that she qualifies for the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Szeged, Hungary in September,” commented Cascade Head Coach Dan Henderson.

Dorian Taylor, member of the Cascade Canoe & Kayak Racing Team, based in Bothell, WA, place second in the US Paracanoe Team Trials, held at Olympic Park in Gainesville GA. Taylor’s performance earned her a position on the US Team to race in the Paracanoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany May 17 – 19.

In a tight race, Taylor came out of the start slightly behind the leaders, but steadily closed the gap. She held off a late challenge from a racer to her right, to finish fourth overall and second in her category of KL2 – Kayak, level of ability 2 on a scale of 1 to 3.
Taylor, who is within her first year of developing her training regimen, sees a great upside to her performance. In Duisburg, she expects to gain experience and enter into the international competitive level. “While Dorian is a ways away from being at the level where she could qualify for the Rio Paralympics in September, we are seriously looking at Tokyo and the podium there,” commented coach Dan Henderson. Very pleased with her performance, Dorian exclaimed, “I’m very grateful for all those who helped me. I’m really happy with my race and proud of what I’ve accomplished.” Taylor set a personal best time of 1:09.214. Full results can be found @ Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club web site