Field at Olympic Trials churns like whitewater

By STEVE WOZNIAK
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- As the winds shifted across the East Race Saturday, so too did the momentum in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

On the second day of white-water slalom trials, Scott Parsons avoided the costly penalties that marked his first day, but again posted the speediest times to win the men's kayak (K-1) in 210.28 seconds, squeaking past Brett Heyl by just 0.12 seconds. Scott Shipley finished third for the second day in a row.

The tandem canoe (C-2) of Scott McCleskey and Dave Hepp narrowly lost on Friday to Joe Jacobi and Matt Taylor. Saturday, they turned the tables, speeding through the churning and difficult waters to finish in 234.29 seconds, over four seconds ahead of their rivals.

Ryan Bahn had two flawless runs in 230.30 seconds to win the single canoe (C-1). Austin Crane, who finished 12th on Friday after taking a 50-second penalty, rebounded Saturday to finish in second. Two-time national champion Sam Davis took third.

In women's kayak (K-1W), Rebecca Giddens found herself in an unusual spot after the first run -- second place behind Sarah Leith.

Giddens, one of only five paddlers to avoid any penalties for the day, responded in the afternoon by torching the course to finish with a combined time of 236.07 seconds, more than 11 seconds ahead of Leith.

"I rarely beat Rebecca," Leith said of her first-run performance. "In fact, I never beat Rebecca."

But she didn't let the brief moment in the spotlight go to her head.

"I can't control anyone else on the course," she said. "I just focus on myself."

Parsons' win in K-1 creates probably the most drama heading into today's final runs. Although paddlers are allowed to throw out their worst day when figuring final scores, five kayakers -- Parsons, Heyl, Shipley, first-day winner Scott Mann and Eric Giddens -- can all contend in a battle where only hundredths of a second could decide who goes to Athens and who goes back home.

"South Bend has never been my best course, so I'm glad I've been able to do as well as I have," said Eric Giddens, Rebecca's husband and training partner, who finished fourth in both days of racing.

"We've got a good, competitive team," is all Parsons could muster when asked for a prediction of who would come out on top.

Besides Bahn and Giddens, the only others to avoid any penalties on the second day were K-1 paddlers Lee Leibforth, Danny Stock and Shaun Smith.

Despite having only 19 gates, one less than on the first day, Saturday's course setup led to much slower times. Gate 11, in particular, caused many delays as paddlers tried to navigate the upstream gate straight into a viciously churning flush.

"It was a harder course," said McCleskey. "A lot more technical moves."

Paddlers were elated to find the large and lively crowd that lined the banks of the East Race on Saturday, a far cry from their usual experiences.

"I've never seen it like this in America," said Leith. "Overseas, we're used to big crowds, but not here. This is the biggest turnout I've ever seen. The crowd support was great."

"I had some kid come up and ask me for my (autograph)," Leith said with a bit of surprise. "I've never had that."

The trials continue with final runs today. After the afternoon runs, paddlers will have their two best scores of the three-day event used to calculate final placement.

The new U.S. national team will be named in a ceremony at Seitz Park tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m.

The top three finishers in each class earn a spot on the national team and a chance to qualify for the Summer Olympics at a World Cup race in Athens April 22-25.

Sarah Leith makes an impressive run during

Saturday's K-1W Whitewater Slalom Olympic

Trials on the East Race Waterway.

Tribune Photo/BARBARA ALLISON

U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

1. Rebecca Giddens, San Diego, 236.07 seconds

2. Sarah Leith, Hulets Land, N.Y., 247.29

3. Hannah Larsen, Atlanta, 267.47

4. Maria Kallman, Boulder, Colo., 269.33

5. Amy Dingle, Columbus, Ohio, 271.41

6. Aleta McCleskey, Sylva, N.C., 271.66

7. Gwen Greeley, Suamico, Wis., 278.26

8. Molly Stock, Potomac, Md., 288.23

9. Lauren Bixby, Bethesda, Md., 302.80

10. Michelle Clements, San Marcos, Texas, 307.09

Men's Kayak (K-1)

1. Scott Parsons, Bethesda, Md., 210.28 seconds

2. Brett Heyl, White River Junction, Vt., 210.40

3. Scott Shipley, Boulder, Colo., 213.43

4. Eric Giddens, San Diego, 218.17

5. Lee Leibfarth, Bryson City, N.C., 219.80

6. Scott Mann, Bryson City, N.C., 219.85

7. Nejc Poberaj, Cabin John, Md., 221.61

8. Danny Stock, Cabin John, Md., 224.68

9. Nick Kimmet, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 224.92

10. Shaun Smith, Hixson, Tenn., 230.29

Single Canoe (C-1)

1. Ryan Bahn, Durango, Colo., 230.30 seconds

2. Austin Crane, Kennesaw, Ga., 232.35

3. Sam Davis, Sylva, N.C., 237.87

4. Chris Ennis, Bryson City, N.C., 238.72

5. Erik Amason, Arlington, Va., 245.24

6. Neil Quinn, Peachtree City, Ga., 245.42

7. Will Seeley, Bethesda, Md., 249.93

8. Benn Fraker, Peachtree City, Ga., 259.44

9. Nick Lomas, Alpharetta, Ga., 260.30

10. Casey Eichfeld, Drums, Pa., 260.64

Tandem Canoe (C-2)

1. Scott McCleskey, Sylva, N.C., and Dave Hepp, Cullowhee, N.C., 234.29 seconds

2. Joe Jacobi, Coperhill, Tenn., and Matt Taylor, Atlanta, 238.70

3. Frank Babcock, Canton, Ga., and Jeff Larimer, Marietta, Ga., 250.39