CANOE/KAYAK - SLALOM: Two-time Olympic medallist Jessica Fox has overcome a severe throat infection and Rio Olympian Ian Borrows a limited preparation to post wins on the final day of the Australian National Slalom Championships at Penrith.
Fox won both the women’s K1 and C1 titles, less than 24 hours after being prescribed antibiotics to fight off illness.
Borrows withstood a challenge from some of Australia’s most promising young paddlers to win the men’s C1 title.
The biggest upset on the final day was in the men’s K1, where Victoria’s Tim Anderson edged out Rio Olympian Lucien Delfour for the gold medal.
Fox admitted she probably shouldn’t have been paddling.
“I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent, so it was good to still be able to push myself and race well,” Fox said.
“I’m actually quite sick. I had to go on antibiotics yesterday and probably shouldn’t have raced today, but I really wanted to, and at least make a good run if I could.
“Everyone was quite close because it was an easy course, it meant everyone could attack and made it a really competitive race.”
Fox finished almost eight seconds ahead of Ros Lawrence in the K1 final, with sister Noemie taking the bronze, and then more than five seconds ahead of her younger sister in the C1, with Lawrence taking the bronze.
After some close racing in the qualifying rounds, Ian Borrows showed his class in the final of the men’s C1 on Friday.
Borrows picked up a two-second penalty but still managed to finish more than three seconds ahead of Perth’s Brodie Crawford, with 18-year-old Tristan Carter third.
“After the heats I had a bit of pressure put on me, so today I wanted to pull off a solid run,” Borrows said.
“I was feeling very rusty. I am coming off a pretty big break. I kept my fitness up but hadn’t been paddling much.
“It was a strong field today, so I really wanted to keep in front of them and keep them at bay for as long as I can.”
A two-second penalty for a gate touch proved costly for Lucien Delfour in the men’s K1 final, relegating him to second behind Victoria’s Tim Anderson.
Anderson’s winning time was 87.21 seconds, 1.99 seconds ahead of the Rio Olympian.
Another Victorian, Jaxon Merritt, finished in third place.
Ross Solly
Canoeing Australia
