Kayaking: Fouhy qualifies for three semifinals

New Zealand kayaker Ben Fouhy qualified for three semifinals at the world championships in Croatia today, winning two heats and managing a fifth in his third race of the day.

After comfortably winning his K1 1000m heat, he teamed with Steven Ferguson to win their K2 1000m heat 90 minutes later on the opening day of the championships in Zagreb.

Then he was fifth in the K1 500 in 1min 42.545sec. German Lutz Altepost won the heat in 1min 39.245sec. The top five in each heat qualify for the semis.

Fouhy, world K1 1000 champion in 2003 and silver medallist in the same event at last year's Athens Olympics, clocked three minutes 40.999 seconds to win the first of six K1 1000 heats.

Denmark's Kim Wraae was second in 3min 42.217sec.

Fouhy's main rivals, Eirik Veraas Larsen of Norway, the Olympic champion, and Australia's Nathan Baggaley, clocked the fastest heat times, both dipping under 3min 36sec.

In the K2 1000, Fouhy and Ferguson had a narrow win in heat three, recording the sixth fastest time overall of 3min 20.177sec.

A Polish duo were second in 3min 20.255sec.

The K1 and K2 1000 finals will be held on Saturday.

Fouhy carried some good form into the championships after claiming second in the K1 1000 final at a World Cup meeting in Germany in May.

He and Ferguson also took out fourth place in the K2 1000.

- NZPA