Men’s C-1 Senior 5000m
(Note: previously awarded to 10,000m)
The National Championship Senior Men’s C1 5000m event is named in honor of Frank Havens of the Washington Canoe Club (WCC), Washington, DC. Frank was a 4-time Olympian (1948, 1952, 1956, 1960), winning two Olympic medals in the 10,000-meter canoe singles, a Silver in 1948 and Gold in 1952. He also won the national canoeing championship in 1950-52, 1954, 1956-57, and 1961. Frank (deceased in 2018) was an active paddler, racer and supporter of canoesport through and into his 90’s.
Some career highlights for Frank Havens
- Only American C-1 Olympic Medalist in American History
- Sports Illustrated Top 50 Athletes of Century in 2000
- 7-Time Singles National Champion
- Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
- Arlington, VA Sports Hall of Fame
- Worlds Master Champion numerous times as an individual and with his big brother Bill Havens
- Was an active paddler, racer and supporter of canoesport well into his 80s, last competing nationally at the 2006 US Masters (USMAS) National Championships.
- Brother Bill Jr., was on the 1936, 1940, and 1948 teams also in canoe.
- His Uncle Charles competed in 1924.
Father Bill, Sr. was on the 1924 Olympic Team, the first year Canoe/Kayak was a demonstration sport. Bill, Sr. chose not to compete to be at home with his wife as she gave birth to their son – Frank. Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill, Sr. received a cablegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The cablegram read: “Dad, I won. I’m bringing home the gold medal you should have won while waiting for me to be born.”
Winners
| YEAR | AWARDED TO |
|---|---|
| 2026 | |
| 2025 | Fernando Jorge Dayan |
| 2024 | Ian Ross |
| 2023 | Fernando Jorge Dayan |
| 2022 | Gavin Ross |
| 2021 | Johnny Grady |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to Covid19 pandemic |
| 2019 | Ryan Grady |
| 2018 | Gavin Ross |
| 2017 | Gavin Ross |
| 2016 | Ian Ross |
| 2015 | Zach Guay |
| 2014 | Justin Staubach |
| 2013 | Ian Ross |
| 2012 | Ian Ross |
| 2011 | Ian Ross |
| 2010 | Markin Borys (5K era begins) |
| 2009 | TBD |
| 2008 | TBD |
| 2007 | Amniel Narranjo |
| 2006 | TBD |
| 2005 | TBD |
| 2004 | TBD |
| 2003 | TBD |
| 2002 | TBD |
| 2001 | TBD |
| 2000 | TBD |
| 1999 | TBD |
| 1998 | TBD |
| 1997 | TBD |
| 1996 | TBD |
| 1995 | TBD |
| 1994 | TBD |
| 1993 | Zsolt Molnar |
| 1992 | Jim Ross |
| 1991 | Jim Ross |
| 1990 | Bruce Hartzler |
| 1989 | Bruce Merritt |
| 1988 | Sandor Nyerges First awarded |