It was another strong day of paddling from Team South Africa as Christie Mackenzie added a bronze to the medal tally in the Under 23 K1 women’s event at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Pitești on Friday, 1 October 2021.
Mackenzie paddled another impressive race, much like her race in 2017 in Pietermaritzburg when she also bagged a bronze medal in the junior category.
“It was one of the toughest races I’ve ever raced,” Mackenzie said.
“My start wasn’t great and I nearly had a swim 250 metres in so managed to avoid that one so I was playing catch-up for the whole of the first lap.
“I sat on diamond and got my breath back but when it was just a group three I think that wanted me to pull!” she laughed.
“To have the support from the South African team on the portage is unreal and you can hear the vuvuzela’s through most of the course which is incredible!”
The other South African in the Under 23 women’s race was Kira Bester who finished in a solid sixth position overall.
The junior women’s K2 racing got the morning’s schedule off to an exciting start with the Durban-based pair of Valmajean Hockly and Tannah Smith flying the flag high at the front of the race however it was the two Hungarian boats who were too strong.
The pair were in a battle for the bronze medal right up to the final push for the line but they lost out and had to settle for fourth in the race – which is an encouraging sign given the pair will be back again in the junior category in 2022.
The other junior women’s pair of Melonie Croeser and Georgina Howard had to settle for thirteenth overall.
Day Two Results:
Junior Women K2
1. Sara Fojt/Laura Ujfalvi (HUN) 01:27:31
2. Evelin Csengeri/Maja Horvath (HUN) 01:27:36
3. Sophie Hansen/Karoline Nielsen (DEN) 01:28:52
4. Valmajean Hockly/Tannah Smith (RSA) 01:28:55
…
13. Meloni Croeser/Georgina Howard (RSA) 01:33:17
Under 23 Women K1
1. Catherine Rask (DEN) 1:47:37
2. Dorina Fekete (HUN) 1:47:45
3. Christie Mackenzie (RSA) 1:48:22
…
5. Kira Bester (RSA) 1:49:56
South African Marathon Team
Senior Ladies K1: Jenna Nisbet, Melanie Van Niekerk
Senior Ladies K2: Saskia Hockly/Jenna Nisbet, Christie Mackenzie/Bridgitte Hartley
Photo 1 Caption: It was another strong performance at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships by Christie Mackenzie who won her second career bronze in the Under 23 Women’s K1 race on Friday, 1 October 2021. Photo: Balint Vekassy/Gameplan Media
With editing by gsport
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