Photo: Scott N. Atkinson
Kristen McClure of Van Wert, Ohio, won the Women 1 national slalom title.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Jenna Sligar and Betsy Harris won national overall titles in respective divisions as the 66th annual GOODE Water Ski National Championships, presented by Speedo, continued on Aug. 14 at Okeeheelee Park. The world's largest three-event water ski tournament, which began Aug. 12, runs through Aug.16.
Sligar won the Women 1 national overall title for the second consecutive year. Sligar also edged her younger sister, Danielle, for the Women 1 national tricks title, scoring 5,990 points to Danielle’s 4,540 points. Harris won the Women 2 national overall title after finishing runner-up in 2007.
Among the other highlights on Thursday, Kristen McClure (Van Wert, Ohio) won the Women 1 national slalom title after a run-off against Michaela Cooper (Moneta, Va.). After both athletes tied with 3 buoys at 35 feet off, McClure posted a score of 2-1/2 buoys at 35 feet off to Cooper’s 2 buoys at 35 feet off in the subsequent run-off. In other action, Frankie Dees (Mulberry, Fla.), competing in his 46th Nationals, won the Men 5 national jumping title, leaping 146 feet; Jane Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.) successfully defended her Women 3 national tricks title, scoring 5,460 points; Matt Curmi (Louisville, Tenn.) edged his younger brother, Aaron, for the Men 1 national tricks title, scoring 6,330 points to Aaron’s 5,950 points; and Dr. Mike Morgan (Odessa, Fla.) scored 3-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off in turning back 88 competitors – the largest event at this year’s Nationals – to win the Men 4 national slalom title.
The tournament continues Friday at 8 a.m. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.
More than 800 water ski athletes from across the United States are competing for national titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall in respective age divisions and two Open divisions. Advancement to the Water Ski National Championships – the world’s largest 3-event water ski tournament – is primarily earned through placement on the national rankings list. Athletes also can qualify for Nationals by placing in the top-five at Regionals or by placing in the top-five at the previous year’s Nationals.
Thursday’s (Day 3) National Champions
Women 1 slalom: Kristen McClure (Van Wert, Ohio), 3 buoys at 35 feet off; Women 1 tricks and overall: Jenna Sligar (Tempe, Ariz.), 5,990 points/3,190.4 points; Men 4 slalom: Dr. Mike Morgan (Odessa, Fla.), 3-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off; Women 2 slalom: Erin Daugherty (Columbia, Mo.), 1 buoy at 35 feet off; Women 2 tricks: Mindy Bates (Fremont, Ind.), 3,390 points; Women 2 overall: Betsy Harris (Taylors, S.C.), 2,451.1 points; Men 1 tricks: Matt Curmi (Louisville, Tenn.), 6,330 points; Men 1 jumping: John Mommer (Lafayette, La.), 183 feet; Men 2 tricks: Benjamin Lohr (Orlando, Fla.), 7,120 points; Men 5 tricks: Don Parsons (Nampa, Idaho), 4,990 points; Women 3 tricks: Jane Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.), 5,460 points; Men 5 jumping: Frankie Dees (Mulberry, Fla.), 146 feet; Women 4 jumping: Rondi Lang (Gilbert, Ariz.), 119 feet; and Men 2 jumping: Tadd Schreiber (Johns Island, S.C.), 174 feet.
Signin to rank content.
