Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race Cancelled

The 2018 Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race scheduled for this Sunday has been cancelled due to "historically fast water flow rates on the Fox River," according to a post on the race's Facebook page. The Fox Valley Park District announced the cancellation Thursday morning. Water flow rates were recently measured in excess of 5,000 cubic feet per second while acceptable safe race conditions call for measurements of 2,100 cubic feet per second or less.

The Fox Valley Park District monitors water levels annually to ensure safety, and has cancelled only one other time in the last 15 years due to similar conditions, according to the Facebook post.

"Despite possible drops in levels by Sunday, we can't assume a safe range will be reached," according to the Facebook post. A flood warning has been issued for the Fox River in Montgomery.

The race offers two course lengths: a 10-mile race that starts in St. Charles and a six-mile stretch that begins in Batavia. Both races finish in McCullough Park in Aurora.

A full refund will be issued to all participants, race officials said.