Due to strong performances at the world championships there were two Americans who had a chance to qualify this weekend at the first round of the US Slalom Canoe Olympic Trials. Both of them took advantage of that opportunity to lock things up while the other two spots now have front runners heading into the second event in Oklahoma City in May.

In the men’s C1 event Casey Eichfeld needed to only finish in the top two to claim a spot in Rio. He finished second on Friday to Zachary Lokken but topped him on Saturday and for the overall finish to earn his berth. Over in the men’s K1 event Michal Smolen needed only a top three finish to earn a berth in the Olympics. Smolen easily won this weekend over Richard Powell and the 22-year-old who won bronze at the 2015 World Championships will be competing in Rio.

Over in the women’s K1 competition where no points had been accumulated before this event. Ashley Nee and Dana Mann continued their tight competition for the K1 spot with Nee edging Mann to have the advantage going to the second round of trials.

Finally in the men’s C2 competition, where the US does not yet know if they will have a spot, Eichfeld and Devin McEwan topped Smolen and Zachary Lokken to take the lead heading to round two. For a good read on why the US does not yet have a spot check out this article from CanoeKayak.com

There was also a women’s C1 event, not in the Olympics this year though it will be in 2010. That event was won by Sage Donnelly this weekend.

The second round of trials are in Oklahoma City on May 7th and 8th.