FINA World Championship Update

Rotorua swimmer Kane Radford has finished 30^th in the men’s 10km Open Water Swim at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Russia.

The 24 year old, who was New Zealand’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony, lost ground when the slick pace went up another notch on the final 2.5km lap on the Kazanka River.

The Pan Pacific Championship bronze medallist managed a creditable 1hr51m29s to finish 1m29s behind winner Jordan Wilimovsky (USA).

The New Zealander positioned himself in the main pack that reeled off three successive 28 minute laps but when Wilimovsky moved through the field from near last, he pushed up the pace.

Only a handful could stay with him as Radford joined some illustrious swimmers including Olympic champion Ous Mellouli (TUN) and early leader Gergely Gyurta (HUN) who found the pace too hot.

The American, not included in many pre-race predictions, won in 1:49:48 from Dutchman Ferry Weertman who out-touched defending champion Spyridon Gianniotis (GRE) for the podium placings.

There was a race within the race with the top 10 swimmers qualifying for the Rio Olympics. There was a dead-heat for the final two spots between last year’s 10km open water series winner Allan Do Carmo (BRA) and Federico Vanellio (ITA).

“It was not the result I was looking for. I felt good through the middle stages of the race but that last bit again I really need to continue to work on,” Radford said.

“I guess now I have to quickly move on. I have a year to focus on the next qualifying race and I need to have a better showing than that to put my hand up for the Olympics.

“In the guys’ field it is so stacked and on any given day anyone can get up it is that close.”

Radford has one further chance of Olympic nomination at the second qualifying event in May next year where a further nine places are available.

Taranaki swimmer Charlotte Webby has finished 45th in the women’s 10km Open Water Swim at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Russia.

The 27 year old clocked 2:12.41.7 in fine conditions on the Kazanka River in Kazan.

Webby was 44^th through the first 2.5km lap, but only 21 seconds behind leader Aurora Ponsele (ITA) and London Olympic champion Eva Risztov (HUN). She held her place but lost ground with a 33 minute second lap to fall 2m44s from the leaders, and with a 34 minute third lap she was seven minutes off the pace.

A hot pace in the lead pack and a final 35 minute lap for Webby put her 14m37s behind the winner and in the 45^th position in the strong field looking for qualification to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Frenchwoman Aurelie Muller surprised to claim the honours in 1:59.04, in a sprint finish with European champion Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) as the pair slipped clear of third placed Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA), the current world cup series leader.