Kayaking: Carrington takes world canoe title

Lisa Carrington. Photo / Janna Dixon

Bay of Plenty paddler Lisa Carrington is New Zealand's newest world canoeing champion.

Carrington won the K1 200m final at the world championships in Szeged, Hungary last night, after earlier finishing first in her heat and semifinal.

She clocked 39.998 seconds to cross ahead of Poland's Marta Walczykiewicz in 40.472s. Ukraine's Inna Osypenko-Radomska was third in 40.670s.

The win ensures Carrington a place at next year's Olympic Games in London, and backs up her World Cup victory in Duisberg, Germany in May over the same distance.

New Zealand's last world champion was Ben Fouhy in 2003, and the 22-year-old from Ohope was ecstatic last night.

"I didn't have the best of starts but I just went as hard as I could," she said.

"It is a bit of a relief but also pretty awesome.

"It's all come quickly because it's my first year racing the 200m on this stage. So it's really exciting and good for the sport."

Carrington, who came into canoeing from a surf lifesaving background, is also aiming for London in the K2 500 event with Erin Taylor.

The pair finished ninth in the A final in Hungary, but needed a top six finish to qualify for the Olympics.

They'll get a final chance at the Oceania championships in Penrith next March.

Fouhy was ninth in his K1 1000m final, a disappointment after two strong efforts in his heat and semifinal.

The top eight qualified for London in that event so the 2004 Olympic silver medallist will also head for Penrith where only the winners will progress to the Games.

Steven Ferguson and Darryl Fitzgerald won the K2 1000m B final to be ranked 10th overall.