Australian Jessica Fox qualified top in C1 and seventh in K1 ©ICF

Australian Jessica Fox qualified top in C1 and seventh in K1 as the fourth International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup leg of the season began in Tacen today.

Fox went in heat one of the women’s C1 and put in a clean run to finish the course in 103.23sec.

In heat two, Austrian Nadine Weratschnig was triumphant in 105.60, the second fastest women’s run of the day.

She was followed by Tereza Fiserova of the Czech Republic, while American Sage Donnelly qualified in third.

In the men’s C1 event Slovakia’s Alexander Slafkovsky finished first in heat one in 89.58.

Slafkovsky has won three consecutive silver medals but is a clear overall leader in the race for World Cup honours.

The Slovenians used their home advantage to qualify second, third, fourth and fifth.

Luka Bozic qualified second, just 0.35secs behind Slafkovsky, with Slovenian teammates Anze Beric, Benjamin Savsek and Jure Lenarcic all less than three seconds behind the leader.

In the K1 event, Germany’s Ricarda Funk posted the fastest women’s time to win heat one.

A time of 91.73 was over four seconds clear of second placed Corinna Kuhnle of Austria and third placed Slovenian Ursa Kragelj.

Fox was seventh in the K1 qualifying but is always a threat in the final.

Slovakia’s Alexander Slafkovsky finished first in heat one on the first day in Tacen ©ICF
Slovakia’s Alexander Slafkovsky finished first in heat one on the first day in Tacen ©ICF

“It’s been an incredible start to the season, my best ever in both K1 and C1,” said Fox.

“It would be amazing to go four, five, but the competition is always tough, especially in Tacen, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and having a good crack at it.

“It’s very special, and obviously I’m very proud of the way I raced.

“It means a lot because I’ve never won three gold medals in the K1 before in the World Cups, and I’ve never won the overall title before in the K1.

“I guess that’s what is exciting.

“This is the first time I’m in the running for that.”

Slovenia’s Zan Jakse posted the fastest K1 time of the day with 82.33 to win heat one of the men’s K1.

Czech Jiri Prskavec was only 0.11 behind with France’s Mathieu Biazizzo in third.

Tacen is famous for its drop into gate one which can upset an athlete’s entire run if poorly executed.

Heat two of the men’s K1, and the final race of the day, saw Slovakia’s Jakub Grigar qualify top only 0.01 ahead of Swiss Dimitri Marx.

Tomorrow’s schedule includes the C1 men’s semi-finals and finals alongside the women’s K1 semi-finals and finals.