SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento State Aquatic Center will host the 2024 US Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23, at Lake Natoma. Racing will take place from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. on both days. The purpose of the event is to select athletes to be the prospective Olympic and Paralympic team to race in Paris this summer.

The ACA (American Canoe Association) will show the highest level of flatwater sprint racing to Lake Natoma.  The U.S. has secured a quota for the WC1 200m event for the Paris Olympics (secured by Nevin Harrison). The final opportunity for U.S. athletes to secure a quota for the Paris Olympics is at the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Sarasota, Florida, this April 26 - 28. The results of the ACA Olympic Team Trials will determine who races in the qualified events at the Paris Games. We anticipate that the winners of each event at the Trials will then move on to Sarasota to hopefully qualify additional team members.

The U.S. has also qualified two athletes to the Paralympic Games.  The trials will also decide additional athletes who will be attempting to qualify for Paris.  This will be decided at the Para World Championships in Szeged, Hungary, in May.

Athletes to Watch:

Nevin Harrison brought Canoe Sprint, a sport that is still growing in popularity in the United States, national recognition after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when she became the Olympic Champion in the Women’s C1 200m event. In 2022, Nevin took first place at the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championship, in the WC1 200m event. This year, Nevin qualified an Olympic Quota for the WC1 200m event at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.  

Jonas Ecker & Aaron Small are hoping to compete in their first Olympic Games in Paris next year in the Men’s K2 500m event. In 2022, Ecker and Small took first place at the Pan American Championships. We eagerly anticipate that the duo will pull through at the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint Pan American Olympic Qualifier in April to secure an Olympic quota for the MK2 500m event. 

This event is hosted by the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, Associated Students Inc., the University Union, along with support from the California State Parks Gold Field District.

There is a $10 parking fee at Nimbus Flat State Park (cash only).

 

Race Schedule: https://www.crewtimer.com/regatta/r13350