CANOEING Preview: U.S. Nationals on in Georgia through Saturday

Kaitlyn McElroy, winner of four U.S. titles in 2018

The American Canoe Association will stage the U.S. National Championships at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia through Saturday. Will the races be dominated by just a few stars as in 2018?

Last year in Oklahoma City, the racing belonged mostly to six athletes who came home with a lot of hardware:

Men:
5 wins ~ Ken Kasperbauer: C-1 200-500 m, C-2 200 m, C-4 500-1,000 m.
4 wins ~ Stanton Collins: K-1 200-500 m, K-2/200 m, K-4 500 m
4 wins ~ Alexander Lee: K-1 10,000-5,000 m, K-2 1,000 m, K-4 1,000 m

Women:
6 wins ~ Sammie Barlow: K-1 500-1,000 m, K-2 200-500 m, K-4 500-1,000 m
4 wins ~ Kaitlyn McElroy: K-1 200-5,000 m, K-2 200-500 m
4 wins ~ Nevin Harrison: C-1 200-500 m, C-2/5,000 m, C-4 500 m

The defending champions from the 2018 Nationals in Oklahoma City:

Men
● C-1/200 m: Ken Kasperbauer (44.096)
● C-1/500 m: Ken Kasperbauer (2:01.133)
● C-1/1,000 m: Gavin Ross (4:25.224)
● C-1/5,000 m: Gavin Ross (23:00.708)

● C-2/200 m: Field/Kasperbauer (42.921)
● C-2/1,000 m: Grady/Surles (4:09.415)

● K-1/200 m: Stanton Collins (37.873)
● K-1/500 m: Stanton Collins (1:46.543)
● K-1/1,000 m: Alexander Lee (3:53.941)
● K-1/5,000 m: Alexander Lee (19:15.869)

● K-2/200 m: Collins/Mullican (34.9018)
● K-2/1,000 m: Cross-Whiter/Lee (3:29.113)
● K-2/5,000 m: Wilding/Whitcomb (19:26.849)

Women:
● C-1/200 m: Nevin Harrison (50.671)
● C-1/500 m: Nevin Harrison (2:24.299)
● C-1/1,000 m: Lia Gaetano (5:10.721)
● C-1/5,000 m: Ann Armstrong (26:56.808)

● C-2/200 m: Neutz/Murphy (53.072)
● C-2/500 m: Gaetano/Ghizila (2:20.208)
● C-2/5,000 m: Harrison/Neutz (23:34.460)

● K-1/200 m: Kaitlyn McElroy (46.541)
● K-1/500 m: Sammie Barlow (2:01.036)
● K-1/1,000 m: Sammie Barlow(4:25.976)
● K-1/5,000 m: Kaitlyn McElroy (20:44.736)

● K-2/200 m: McElroy/Barlow (44.654)
● K-2/500 m: McElroy/Barlow (1:56.829)

Racing will continue through Sunday. The Nationals is not a direct-selection event for the U.S. entries for the World Championships, it will have an impact in some events. Look for results here.