CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Clearfield teenager Alan McCracken is heading to Europe for a second straight year to compete on the world stage in canoeing and kayaking.
The 16-year-old will represent Team USA in the 2026 senior Wildwater World Championships and World Cup events later this month and in June.
In preparation for the competition, McCracken has spent hours training on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, at Lower Whitmer Park in Clearfield.
We spoke with him this week about the opportunity.
“My grandparents owned a canoe and kayak rental business here in Clearfield, ‘Kraken’s Canoes,’ for a long time. So, I grew up around boats. When I was about seven, I decided I wanted to start competing. My aunt raced for years, and I fell in love with it ever since.”
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McCracken states his long-term goal is to eventually create the U.S. Olympic team.
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