In the men's C1, the powerful Slovakian Alexander Slafkovsky posted the quickest time of 1min 40sec.

Confident of qualification, he experimented on his second run cutting tighter and faster lines, but clipped gates nine, 10 and 12.

Other contenders, including fellow countrymen Matej Benus and Michal Martikan, Germany's Franz Anton and Jan Benzien and Great Britain's David Florence, last year's champion, cruised through with plenty in reserve.

Local interests, Fabien Lefevre, who advanced in the men's kayak, Casey Eichfeld and Zachary Lokken also qualified.

Speaking about the difficulties of competing in both the kayak and canoe in the same events, Lefevre said: "If you train your body and your mind to switch everyday then it becomes natural.

"You just have to be patient and let your brain integrate that switch regularly. I would say that takes around two seasons."

Fabien Lefevre is confident he can compete in both the kayak and canoe events at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships ©Getty Images



Czech Republic's Jiri Prskavec and Vit Prindis showed their class in the men's K1, recording the fastest times of the morning session on their first runs.

Both comfortably stopped the clock under the 1:40 mark without penalties, but double European champion Prskavec was the quickest, crossing the line in 1:36.

In the Women's C1, Australia's Jessica Fox comfortably qualified for the semi-final with a controlled effort that presented her the opportunity to sit out the second run.

Great Britain's Mallory Franklin, the 2013 Canoe Slalom World Championship silver medallist, and Czech Republic's Katerina Hoskova, who overhauled Fox's qualification score on her second run, also progressed.

The C2 men and K1 women are due to line-up tomorrow in the American state of Maryland, with the K1 men's semi-finals taking place in the afternoon session.

You can watch the action unfold on the International Canoe Federation's YouTube channel by clicking here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
September 2014: Canoe Slalom World Championships set to begin at Deep Creek