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Alabama teen wins gold medal at 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championship

A Phenix City teenager took home the gold Friday at the international kayak championships in the Chattahoochee River.

Makinley Kate Hargrove, 16, earned the top spot with a score of 251.67 in the finals of the Women’s Kayak Surface Junior Final Friday afternoon at the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Columbus, Georgia.

MaKinley Kate Hargrove won the Women’s Kayak Surface Junior Final Friday afternoon to claim the gold medal at the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Columbus, Georgia. 10/13/2023
MaKinley Kate Hargrove won the Women’s Kayak Surface Junior Final Friday afternoon to claim the gold medal at the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Columbus, Georgia. 10/13/2023 Darrell Roaden Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

Sophie Gilfillian of Canada won silver, and team USA’s Eleanor Knight took home bronze.

At the 2022 world championships in Nottingham, England, Makinley Kate, then 14, won the bronze medal out of 20 competitors in the junior women’s division and, in the semifinals, set the ICF world record for highest-scoring ride by a junior woman.

Makinley Kate Hargrove, center won the Women’s Kayak Surface Junior Final Friday afternoon to claim the gold medal at the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Columbus, Georgia. Sophie Gilfillan of Canada,left, was the silver medalist, and Eleanor Knight of team USA took home the bronze medal. 10/13/2023
Makinley Kate Hargrove, center won the Women’s Kayak Surface Junior Final Friday afternoon to claim the gold medal at the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Columbus, Georgia. Sophie Gilfillan of Canada,left, was the silver medalist, and Eleanor Knight of team USA took home the bronze medal. 10/13/2023 Darrell Roaden Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

The competition was on the “Goodwave” alongside Waveshaper Island. Opening ceremonies for the event took place a week ago last Saturday at the Phenix City Amphitheater in Phenix City, Alabama. Competition began Oct. 9 with the Squirt Boat competition and concludes Oct. 14 with the men’s and women’s surface kayaking event.

FS
Frank Scandale
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
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