Smith ready for World Sprint Champs
RANDPARK RIDGE – Smith is now ranked third in SA following the SA School Sprint Championships.
In preparation for the Junior World Sprint Championship, Nicole Smith took part in the SA School Sprint Championships from 30 April to 2 May.
Smith who is a resident in the area and also a pupil at Randpark Ridge Trinity House High School, took part in the 200, 500 and 1 000 metre sprint events.
She explained that her hard work paid off, as she is now the number three female canoeist in South Africa.
General Manager at the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club, Jason Brown said, “Smith achieved a third place in the 1 000m race with a time of 00:5:41, and second in the K2 race with a time of 00:4:30: minutes. In the 500m race Nicole finished fifth in 00:2:14 minutes and second in the K2 event in 00:2:08, while in the 200m race she was the fourth finisher in 00:00:48:61, and 00:00:47:42 in the K2 discipline where she partnered with Julia van der Westhuyzen from KwaZulu-Natal.”
Brown added that the prestigious annual sprint interschool competition, brings the sprint season for juniors to an end.
“The marathon season kicks off with the Gauteng marathon trials for all ages in mid-May to select a marathon team to represent the province at the SA Marathon Championships in June, in Pietermaritzburg,”
He explained that the races are per age group in sprint lanes and all ages participate in K1 disciplines.
“The rowers who are between 14 and 18 can also compete in the K2 discipline – that’s another word for doubles, and they can also compete in the Olympic discipline called the K4.” Smith concluded and said these championships are an excellent preparation for the Junior World Sprint Championship that is taking place from 23 to 26 July.
