Marcia Jones Smoke Award

Awarded to the K-1 Senior Women’s 500m National Champion

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Marcia moved to Michigan in college and stayed there after her marriage to raise a family. She moved from competitive swimming to competitive kayaking in high school. She is the first United States women athlete to win an Olympic Medal in a Canoe Sprint singles event.

Her older sister Sperry was also an Olympic kayaker as is one of Marcia’s children, her son Jeff. Marcia went on to become a coach and mentor for many famous Michigan paddlers including all of the Deibold’s, Barton’s and Tribold’s.

Olympic Results:

  • Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games: BRONZE in K-1 500m
  • Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games: 4th in K-1 500m and 7th in K-2 500m
  • Munich 1972 Olympic Games: 9th in K-1 500m

Other Highlights:

  • 35 National Championships titles, including 11 straight for K-1 500m
  • 24 North American Championship titles
  • 1966 World Championships in East Berlin: 5th in K-1 500m, 6th in K-2 500m
  • 1971 World Championships in Belgrade: 9th in K-1 500m, 9th in K-2 500m
YEARAWARDED TO
2023Elena Wolgamot
2022Sandrine Hamel
2021Elena Wolgamot
2020Not Awarded due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2019Kaitlyn McElroy
2018Sammie Barlow
2017Sammie Barlow
2016Sammie Barlow
2015Maggie Hogan
2014Alex McLain
2013No race due to weather cancelation.
2012Maggie Hogan – First year awarded