Team GB's Richard Hounslow recorded the 15th-fastest time in the first run of the men's kayak with 94.40.
Spaniard Samuel Hernanz recorded a very impressive 87.04 to take the lead going into the second run later today, 0.4 of a second ahead of second-placed Vavrinec Hradilec of the Czech Republic.
Hounslow's time initially put him in fifth, but the top competitors in the world followed to leave Hounslow 15th from 22.
Croatia's Dinko Mulic missed four gates on his way to 202 seconds of penalties, leaving him with no hope of qualifying for the semi-finals.
The second run takes place after the second C1 heat.
