2000 U.S. Canoe & Kayak Marathon Senior Team Selection

The purpose of the selection process is to select athletes to develop for representing the United States in International Canoe Federation competitions and to select from this group, the fastest athletes that will be competitive at World championships.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR TEAM STATUS

To be considered for the U.S. Senior Marathon Team one must participate at the U.S. Trials in the singles (K-1 men, K-1 women or C-1 men) or have a trials exemption request approved by the Marathon Team Selection Committee. The Committee will consist of the Chairperson, Team Leader, and Two Athlete Representatives. Exemption requests should be sent to the marathon Chairperson and include previous race times at international races or other supporting performance results. Examples of exemptions that might be approved: death of a family member, conflicts with other national or international canoe sport events, canoe sport training or other conflict that prevent an athlete from attending Team Trials. Requests must be received in writing prior to the Team Trials date. Verbal requests to the Marathon Team Selection Committee will only be accepted if time does not permit a written request. The request will still be needed in writing.

The committee may also review requests for team status from athletes that have moved to the United States after the trials date. These Athletes will need to comply with section 1.2 of the ICF Racing Rules.

MAKING NATIONAL TEAM STATUS

The National Team will consist of 12 men (Kayak), 12 women (Kayak), and 12 men (Canoe). The first 12 to finish in the singles race (K-1 Men, K-1 Women, C1 Men) will be selected. The Committee reserves the right to fill more positions. These positions may be used for athletes that were exempted from trials, approved for team status or that the committee believes would have qualified for the team but had equipment failure during the race. Team status may be given, if approved by the committee, at any time after the trials date.

Selection for World Cup events will be filled from the results of the singles try out starting with the first finisher.

MAKING THE WORLD TEAM

Singles (K-1M, C-1M, K-1W)

World team offers will be given starting with the first boat to finish that the committee feels will be competitive at worlds *, in K-1 men C-1 men and K-1 women. If the first boat elects not to participate in singles, the next boat that the committee feels will be competitive at worlds * that accepts the offer, will be selected. The committee will select the second boat for worlds. The second boat for worlds to be considered by the committee will be the next athlete that the committee feels will be competitive at worlds *, that accepts the offer. Also to be considered will be athletes that had been exempted from trials or placed on the team, as stated in the team selection above. Offers will be final.

Doubles (K-2W, K-M, C-2M)

World team offers will be given starting with the first boat to finish in K-2 men; K-2 women and C-2 men that the committee feels will be competitive at worlds *. If this boat elects not to participate in doubles the next boat to finish, that the committee feels will be competitive at worlds * that accepts the offer, will be selected as the first boat for worlds. Boats must accept as a team, not individually. The committee will select the second boat for worlds. The second boat to be considered will be the next boat that the committee feels will be competitive at worlds *. Boats having equipment troubles may also be considered. If the doubles are not filled, the committee may select athletes to fill the doubles starting with the fastest in the singles race and working down through the athletes that the committee feels will be competitive at worlds *. Also to be considered will be athletes that had been exempted from trials or placed on the team, as stated in the team selection above.

* Competitiveness at worlds is considered to be able to finish no more that 10 minutes behind the next to last boat. A minimum performance of sub 50 min 10K pace for men K-1, under ideal conditions, is suggested.

Times to expect.

Winning K-1 time at 1991 flatwater worlds 41:54:73 10k time

Winning K-2 men time at 1998 worlds 39:15/10k pace 20^th place 43:30/10k pace

Winning K-1 men time at 1998 worlds 42:15/10k pace 25^th place 46:00/10k pace

Winning K-2 women time at 1998worlds 42:45/10k pace 14^th place 50:00/10k pace

Winning K-1 women time at 1998 worlds 46:00/10k pace 15^th place 53:15/10k pace

Winning K-1 men time at 1997 team trials 49:20/10k pace Winning 10k-split time at 1999 team trials 47:34:68

All athletes eligible and being considered for the world team are advised to participate in an U.S. Marathon team training camp, unless they have participated at world championships during the last four years. Boats being considered for the #2 position are advised to attend the camps. Any Team member is welcome at the training camps. The committee will use the athlete’s past racing history and performance at the training camp in selecting the second boat for Worlds. All athletes going to worlds must have participated in the training camp, gone to world championships in the past 4 years or have demonstrated to the committee that they can be competitive.

For Venue and Accommodation Information, please contact: Connie Hagler at 770-536-8937 E-mail conhagler@aol.com