Posted in: Races

Setting the Stage in the Serpentine

3.Mar.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (1) comments

The Serpentine is the venue for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim and the swim leg of the triathlon at the 2012 London Olympics.

Both races of supreme endurance will be watched by upwards to 100,000 fans and spectators in the centre of London within the grounds of the famous Hyde Park.

The Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park has enjoyed a colorful history after it was created by Queen Caroline in 1730. The Olympic course will be held in the eastern half of the lake to the east of the Serpentine Bridge which marks the boundary between Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and drains out by an underground flow to the River Thames. The Serpentine's names comes from its snakelike, curving shape and is home of the highly respected Serpentine Swimming Club.

Sam Greetham, a representative of British Swimming and nominee for the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, not only helped design the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim course within a rowing basin at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but he also is prepared the design of the open water course on the Serpentine for the 2012 London Olympics.

"It’s an unbelievable honor - not just for myself, but also for the town of Scarborough and for the sport I love," explained the always humble and thoughtful Sam to the Scarborough Evening News.

With an eye for detail, an utmost concern for the athletes and a keen sense of the global interest in open water swimming, Sam is open water swimming's equivalent of a movie set designer:

He sets the stage and then lets the stars showcase their talents.

Kane Radford and Melissa Ingram Keep Right On Course

27.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

Top open water swimmer Kane Radford and Olympic backstroker Melissa Ingram both paid attention, dug deep and won the fourth leg of the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series in Corsair Bay in Lyttelton Harbour at the 2.8K Corsair Bay Classic today in Christchurch.

There was a bit of a mix-up about the course layout.

Athletes who did not keep the turn buoys to their right were disqualified, which included a few of the top competitors. "We got a bit lazy at the pre-race briefing and must have been talking – and I was punished accordingly," said Australian David Browne.

Impressively, Melissa was the fourth overall finisher in the race. "I was surprised to hear that [I won] at the finish line, but I did listen at the briefing and I always make sure I know the course well," said Melissa.

A local television news report on the disqualifications in Corsair Bay Classic is here.

Despite the disqualification, the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series continues to take its successful ocean swimming tour on the road throughout New Zealand.

At the first leg of the Series at the 2.8K Sovereign Harbour Crossing in Quinton park, Bayswater to Te Wero Island, Viaduct, there were 1,177 finishers. At the second leg of the Series at the 3.3K Russell to Paihia Swim in Quinton park, Bayswater to Te Wero Island, Viaduct, there were 595 finishers. At the third leg of the Series at the 2.8K Capital Classic in Wellington, there were 550 finishers. At the fourth leg here in Corsair Bay in Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, there were 385 finishers with two more legs to go before the Series awards its overall winners.

Men's Results:
1. Kane Radford, 28:49
2. Colin Braund, 30:09
3. Bryan Rhodes, 31:06
4. Jacob Barry, 32:01
5. Henry Norris, 32:01

Women's Results:
1. Melissa Ingram, 31:14
2. Georgia Hind, 32:14 8
3. Brenda Russell, 32:23
4. Samantha Harnett, 32:28
5. Kate Medder, 33:18

Photo of Melissa Ingram at the AIMES Awards where she won the Award for Excellence.

FINA’s Longest Pro Race…88K Down the Parana River

23.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

FINA's longest Open Water Swimming Grand Prix race is from the city of Hernandarias to Parana in Argentina...a nearly impossibly long 88K (54 miles).

14 men and 8 women started the Maraton International Hernandarias-Parana on February 7th, racing downstream in the 21ºC water together to the exciting finish.

Damian Blaum of Argentina caught Alexander Studzinski of Germany at the beginning of the finish chute and passing him on the last stroke after 8 hours and 23 minutes (see above). Argentina swept the race when teammate Pilar Geijo won the women's race in 8 hours and 34 minutes.

Women's Final Results
1. Pilar Geijo (ARG) 8:34:22.84
2. Esther Nunez Morera (ESP) 8:40:02.16
3. Shelley Clark (AUS) 8:43:36.20
4. Noelia Petti (ARG) 9:12:43.44
5. Grith Sigsgaard (DEN) 9:25:06.45
6. Rita Vanesa Garcia (ARG) 9:37:43.06

Men's Final Results
1. Damian Blaum (ARG) 8:23:21.54
2. Alex Studzinski (GER) 8:23:23.22
3. Rodolfo Valenti (ITA) 8:25:02.66
4. Andrea Volpini (ITA) 8:28:53.76
5. Rok Kerin (SLO) 8:32:52.14
6. Gabriel Villagoiz (ARG) 8:34:32.20
7. Evgenij Pop Acev (MKD 8:37:16.54
8. Guillermo Bertola (ARG) 8:39:17.06
9. Emanuel Corsiglia (ARG) 8:49:06.16
10. Mauro Nappa (ITA) 9:24:50.55
11. Juan Cordonnier (ARG) 9:55:53.78
12. Cristian Carrizo (ARG) 9:57:07.49

Photos courtesy of FINA representative Jorge Delgado Panchana.

Cara Baker and Trent Grimsey Win Australian 5K Championships

21.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

At last year's World Swimming Championships, Melissa Gorman snatched victory in the 5K, but was not in the money in the 10K on the following day. Deja vu occurred again at the 2010 Australian Open Water Championships where Melissa won the 10K on Saturday, but failed to come back in today's 5K race.

Visiting New Zealander Cara Baker (shown above) won the race in 1:00:20 with 14-year-old Bonnie MacDonald unexpectedly second (and first Australian) in 1:00.27 time at Nagambie Lakes in Victoria. Danielle DeFrancesco, who was disqualified yesterday in the 10K race for losing both transponders, was third (second-placed Australian) in 1:00:29, with Samantha Hoschke-Edwards (1:00.33) fourth. Melissa was sixth.

Cara Baker, who previously won the New Zealand 10K national championships, appears to be ready to step up on the world's stage later this year at the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Championships.

Young teenager Bonnie said, "It was really a bit of a surprise as I didn't come in with high expectations, as there were so many great girls and world champions [like Melissa] in the race. I just can't believe it. As I'm still only 14, my coach is not heaping too much pressure on me to perform, so results like this are just a bonus and great motivation for the future."

On the men's side, Trent Grimsey reversed his fortunes from yesterday's sixth-place finish in the 10K and won the 5K race in 56:23. Using his trademark 6-beat kick and 88 stroke-per-minute pace, he pulled away from Andrew Beato (56:28) and David Browne (56:40).

"I knew [Andrew] was the freshest one in the field after not swimming the 10K yesterday and everyone else would wake up as sore as me, so I had to swim a smart race. To be honest this was the worst preparation I have ever had going into a major competition, so to get the 5K win today was great."

Even with all the unexpected surprises at the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships, the Australian and New Zealand teams will undoubtedly show up fit and ready to go at the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Championships this July in Quebec, Canada.

Pieters and Stevenson Win One of the World’s Greatest Swims

20.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

41-year-old former Olympic swimmer Deane Pieters won one of the world's greatest open water swimming events, the 19.7K Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia, in 4 hours 41 minutes.

"I came to swim hard and challenge for the win, and I’m absolutely rapt I was able to do it,” said Deanne, a former pool sprinter who represented Australia in the 200-meter freestyle at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

"Last year, I led until the 18K mark and got swallowed up at the end so I learnt my lesson for this year. To set a goal and see it come together like that is very rewarding."

Tim Hewitt, who won the event in 2001, was second in 4:43:47. A video of the race is here. 28-year-old New Zealander Louise Stevenson of New Zealand won the women's race in 5:07:21. "It hasn’t really sunk in yet – it’s taken a lot of sacrifices the past three or four months so it’s satisfying to win. It was pretty rough out there. In the first 1000 meters, I got stung for buggery.".

Among the 2,300 swimmers who entered the water swimming solos and in teams, Team Aussie Bum with Simon Huitenga, Heidi Gan, Jarrad Lawford and Sean Noone was the first team across the line in 4:18:59. Jessica Barclay and Paul Laver were the first pair to complete the due team race in 4:50:24 as every swimmer had to deal with moderate to heavy swells.

Photo of Deane Pieters by Matthew Tompsett of WAtoday.

Fran Crippen’s Swim Upstream To Victory

7.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

Yesterday, American Fran Crippen gutted out a furious finish to out-sprint South African Chad Ho and Bulgarian Petar Stoychev in the La Patagones Viedma in Argentina, the second FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup on the 2010 pro circuit, but the back story on his victory in the warm 22°C (72°F) waters of the Río Negro River is even more interesting.

The 10K La Patagones Viedma course was on a fresh water river with currents flowing up to 4 knots depending on the time of day. Although it is located 30K from the sea, there is a tidal influence on the river where the race is held. With the tide, the water level rises up to 4 meters. The 10K race was started to coincide with the onset of high tide and, as usual, the current changed during the race: it flowed slighty upstream at the start and downstream by the last loop.

According to coach Jack Fabian, Fran did not realize the river was flowing backwards at the beginning of the race. Trying to gain an advantage, Fran took off and tried to swim in the center of the river on the first loop. Assuming he was going downstream, he actually hit the tide coming in. His competitors, on the other hand, swam near the shore. By the end of the first loop, Fran was almost 200 meters behind everyone. However, with his competitors coming off of a hard 10K in Brazil last week and a strong wind creating a lot of surface chop during the first half of the race, Fran's early navigational decision was not the end of the story. As the winds died down in the later half of the race and the tides turned again, his will to win and his plain ol' Philadelphia toughness clearly showed when he won comfortably in 3 seconds.

Notice how close the race was for the top 8 finishers on both the men's and women's side.

Women's Results:

1. Angela Maurer (GER) 2:03:34
2. Karla Šitić (CRO) 2:03:34
3. Eva Fabian (USA) 2:03:35
4. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) 2:03:35
5. Linsy Heister (NED) 2:03:36
6. Annika Traxel (GER) 2:03:36
7. Anna Guseva (RUS) 2:03:42
8. Anastasia Zhidkova (AZE) 2:03:43
9. Cecilia Biagioli (ARG) 2:03:45
10. Maaike Waaier (NED) 2:03:52
11. Elizaveta Gorshkova (RUS) 2:06:20
12. Alejandra González (MEX) 2:06:23
13. Inha Kotsur (AZE) 2:08:38
14. Heidi George (USA) 2:08:48
15. Odette Saldívar (MEX) 2:10:50
16. Antonella Borgarín (ARG) 2:10:51
17. Gina Mohr (GER) 2:11:25
18. Nika Kozamernik (SLO) 2:11:29
19. Nadine Reichert (GER) 2:12:02
20. Lara Rodríguez (ARG) 2:12:55
Andreína Pinto Perez (VEN)
Swann Oberson (SUI)
Micha Burden (USA)

Men's Results:

1. Francis Crippen (USA) 1:50:57
2. Chad Ho (RSA) 1:51:00
3. Petar Stoychev (BUL) 1:51:02
4. Michael Dmitriev (ISR) 1:51:02
5. Allan Do Carmo (BRA) 1:51:03
6. Tom Vangeneugden (BEL) 1:51:04
7. Sergiy Fesenko (AZE) 1:51:04
8. Christian Reichert (GER) 1:51:05
9. Robin den Boer (NED) 1:53:18
10. Victor Simões (BRA) 1:53:24
11. Spyridon Gianniotis (GRE) 1:58:11
12. Libor Smolka (CZE) 1:58:59
13. Erwin Maldonado (VEN) 2:00:15
14. Resman Shahar (ISR) 2:03:52
15. Barton Wells (USA) 2:04:05
16. Juan Cruz Guidi (ARG) 2:07:05
Samuel De Bona (BRA)
Michael Mruzek (CZE)

Photo courtesy of the La Patagones Viedma website.

Angela Maurer and Fran Crippen Take FINA World Cup in Viedma

6.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

American Fran Crippen gutted out a furious finish and just out-sprinted South African Chad Ho and Bulgarian Petar Stoychev in the La Patagones Viedma in Argentina, the second FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup on the 2010 pro circuit.

After finishing a disappointing 12th at last week's FINA World Cup race in Santos, Brazil, Fran traveled to Viedma on a mission - a mission he carried out with flying colors in the warm 22°C (72°F) waters of the Río Negro River - but he was pressed to the end by equally competitive pros.

Chad, for the second week in a row, finished another close second, but seems destined to crack the top podium soon. Meanwhile Petar had one of his best finishes in a 10K race over the past few years, hot off of his 57K victory in Santa Fe just a week ago.

Veteran and recent International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame honoree Angela Maurer won the women's race over Croatia's Karla Šitić, a 17-year-old half the age of Angela. Another youngster Eva Fabian (16) was third with last week's FINA World Cup victor Ana Marcela Cunha in fourth.

Women's Results:

1. Angela Maurer (GER)
2. Karla Šitić (CRO)
3. Eva Fabian (USA)
4. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA)
5. Linsy Heister (NED)
6. Annika Traxel (GER)
7. Anna Guseva (RUS)
8. Anastasia Zhidkova (AZE)
9. Cecilia Biagioli (ARG)
10. Maaike Waaier (NED)
11. Elizaveta Gorshkova (RUS)
12. Alejandra González (MEX)
13. Inha Kotsur (AZE)
14. Heidi George (USA)
15. Odette Saldívar (MEX)
16. Antonella Borgarín (ARG)
17. Gina Mohr (GER)
18. Nika Kozamernik (SLO)
19. Nadine Reichert (GER)
20. Lara Rodríguez (ARG)

Men's Results:

1. Francis Crippen USA
2. Chad Ho (RSA)
3. Petar Stoychev (BUL)
4. Michael Dmitriev (ISR)
5. Allan Do Carmo (BRA)
6. Tom Vangeneugden (BEL)
7. Sergiy Fesenko (AZE)
8. Christian Reichert (GER)
9. Robin den Boer (NED)
10. Victor Simões (BRA)
11. Spyridon Gianniotis (GRE)
12. Libor Smolka (CZE)
13. Erwin Maldonado (VEN)
14. Resman Shahar (ISR)
15. Barton Wells (USA)
16. Juan Cruz Guidi (ARG)

Axxess DSL Ocean Racing Series on the Eastern Cape

2.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

Nearly 600 swimmers lined up on Hobie Beach in Nelson Mandela Bay on the Eastern Cape of South Africa for the 8th round of the Axxess DSL Ocean Racing Series last week. 14-year-old Wayne Jones outsprinted Michael Marais (shown on left) to win the Crocs 3K Ocean Swim.

Chris van de Sande (shown finishing below)and Carmel Billson won the men's and women's divisions of the SPAR 1K swim.

Full results from Series is here with photographs located here.

Next race is on February 14th.

Stoychev and Nunez Win 57K Santa Fe - Coronda Pro Marathon

1.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

23 top professional marathon swimmers from 9 countries competed in the always difficult 57K 37th Maraton Acuatica Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda on Sunday, swimming before thousands of supportive fans in the quick-moving Coroda River in Argentina.

Prior to the main race, a promotional sprint race was held at the finish area in Coronda, followed a parade of the athletes through the town in speedboats on trailers. The crowds turned out to watch the parade and support the athletes with excellent TV, radio and print coverage of the sprint race. The 57K race - which connects that communities of Santa Fe and Coronda - is truly a special event that is enjoyed by tens of thousands of local people who treat the swimmers like stars.

The river was at a high level, significantly higher than previous years so the course was very fast when the athletes were swimming downstream, but conversely much harder for the athletes when they swam in the portions of the race that went against the current.

According to FINA Delegate John West, Gabriel Villagoiz and Guillermo Bertola, both of Argentina took off and lead the pack at the start, but several lead changes occurred between the Argentinian teammates and Rok Kerin of the Czech Republic and Edoardo Stochino of Italy. Also in the lead pack were Alexander Studzinski of Germany, Damien Blaum of Argentina, Andrea Volpini and Rodolfo Valenti, both of Italy.

At the six-hour mark, Alexander forged a 50-meter lead, but was chased by Peter Stoychev of Bulgaria and Rodolfo. Peter continued to eat away at Alexander's lead and took over the lead with 600 meters to go as over 200 boats followed the swimmers along the course, creating a festive, but safe, atmosphere throughout. Petar, as he has so consistently and dramatically done over the past decade on the professional circuit, held on to a 7-second victory over Alexander as the top three men broke the existing record

28-year-old Esther Nunez won her second race in Santa Fe with a comfortable victory of Australian Shelley Clark and Argentina's Pilar Geijo.

As thousands of spectators lined the river banks wildly cheering the athletes, live television and radio coverage put the professional marathon swimmers in a very positive light.

Men's Results:
1. Petar Stoychev (BUL) 6:57:52.04
2. Alexander Studzinski (GER) 6:57:59.49
3. Rodolfo Valenti (ITA) 6:58:58.56
4. Damián Blaum (ARG), 6:59:25.51
5. Andrea Volpini (ITA), 7:00:30.24
6. Libor Smolka (CZE), 7:00:42.70
7. Guillermo Bertola (ARG), 7:01:44.85
8. Edoardo Stochino (ITA), 7:01:52.81
10. Martín Carrizo (ARG), 7:02:25.34
11. Rostislav Vitek (CZE), 7:04:44.49
12. Rok Kerin (SLO), 7:10:46.62
13. Albericco Mattia (ITA), 7:16:43.43
14. Gabriel Villagoiz (ARG), 7:20:29.84
15. Evgenij Pop Acev (MAC), 7:23:34.41

Women's Results:
1. Esther Nunez Morera (ESP), 7:26:08.10
2. Shelley Clark (AUS), 7:28:45.54
3. Pilar Geijo (ARG), 7:31:05.34
4. Laura La Piana (ITA), 7:36:52.56
5. Marianella Mendoza (ARG), 7:38:54.59
6. Noelia Petti (ARG), 7.52.10.16
7. Vanesa Garcia (ARG), 7.53.13.88
8. Shereen Mansour (EGY), 7:59.30.27
9. Camilla Frediani (ITA), DNF

International Marathon Swimming Hall of Famer Diego Degano explained the 37th edition of the Santa Fe - Coronda river race in Spanish here:

Photo Finish in the Pro Marathon in Santos

1.Feb.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

The difference between first and second in the FINA 10KM Marathon Swim World Cup race (Maratona Aquática Internacional de Santos) in Santos, Brazil was ever so close.

Russia's Evgeny Drattsev finished in 2:14:12:03 over Chad Ho's 2:14:12:44 and Allan do Carmo's 2:14:13:00.

Globsport TV's coverage of the close finish can be seen here. Stay tuned for the final results that may be posted today after confirmation by FINA.

Strong Wind and Strong Swimmers Blowing Across the Eastern Cape

31.Jan.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

Jessica Roux (shown on left) remained unbeaten in the Eastern Cape of South Africa as she won both the 3K and 10K swim at the inaugural Eastern Province Open Water Swim Champs held at Marina Martinique. Michael Marais won the men’s 10K event. "The swim was tough, but I was happy with my time and am looking forward to the South African National Championships [that will be held in Durban in April]."

"The swim was also great preparation for the Bell Buoy swim [that will take place in Port Elizabeth]. There was a strong east wind blowing that caused chop, but apart from that, it was a great swim," said Jessica.

Chris Van Der Sande and Tammy Geyer won the 5K swim with Sanmari Woithe and Andre Kleynhans winning the masters categories. Chris also won the men's 3K swim

Mike Zoetmulder, race director, said, "I am very satisfied with the turnout for these championships. This is the first time we had had entries for the 10K, which indicates the growing commitment of marathon swimmers in the Eastern Cape." The full list of results can be found here.

Ana Marcela Cunha Wins Maratona Internacional de Santos

31.Jan.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

17-year-old Ana Marcela Cunha won today's FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup (Maratona Internacional de Santos - Trophy Renata Agondi).

Ana Marcela played her cards right, taking over after the last turn buoy with 1.1K to go from Olympic 10K champion Larisa Ilchenko and American Chloe Sutton under calm seas with no wind.

"In the end, I sprinted to a two-body advantage and finally defeated the Olympic champion, Larisa," said Ana Marcela. I always hit the limit, but this time I achieved my goal. Now I will prepare myself well for the World Championships in Canada where I am going to strive for a medal - as well as all the other World Cup races until October."

Italy's Martina Grimaldi and and Alice Franco finished second and third in an extremely tight sprint to the finish.

The men's race was so close and so hotly contested that it took time to determine the final results. After a lengthy review of the photo-finish, the officials awarded the victory to Russia's Evgeny Drattsev - which seemed deserving since he had led the pack for much of the race. Chad Ho of South Africa finished second.

900 Swimmers Flock to Heia Safari Ranch

29.Jan.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

Over the weekend, the Heritage Water Festival enjoyed a record number of swimmers at its 0.4K, 0.8K 3K and 5K Heia Safari Ranch course near Muldersdrift in South Africa.

Only in its third year, the Heritage Water Festival had nearly 900 swimmers as many participants were looking to qualify for the 2010 Halfway Toyota Midmar Mile that will only accept 16,000 entries this year.

Aquatic Adventures in Acapulco

28.Jan.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

Johnny Weissmuller, one of swimming greatest heroes, loved Acapulco, Mexico where he filmed Tarzan and the Mermaids. In fact, Johnny's grave lies in a cemetery outside of Acapulco.

It was here that 759 swimmers participated in the Acapulco 5K International Ronald Johnson Open Water Swim this month.

As the sun came up over Acapulco Bay, a flotilla of over 40 escort boats help guide a highly competitive field on a scenic course.

Masters, newcomers, age-groupers and elites took off among fanfare in a flat-water course lined by resort hotels. Both the men's and women's races included Mexico's fastest pro marathon swimmers in close battles with Mexico's best up-and-coming young swimmers.

 

Cecilia Biagioli Takes Home Gold in Rosario 15K

26.Jan.10   |  posted by: steve munatones  |   filed under: Races   |  (0) comments

Simon Ercoli of Italy and Cecilia Biagioli of Argentina won the first race in the professional marathon swimming circuit in Rosario, Argentina over the weekend.

Simon finished just ahead in 1:55:04.3 over Alexander Studzinski of Germany in in 1:55:04.6 in the 15K race in 24°C river water (see below). Frenchman Bertrand Venturi was third in 1:55:34.

Cecilia Biagioli made her countrymen proud by winning the women's race in 2:01:46 over teammate Antonella Bogarin in 2:01:59 and Esther Nunez Morera of Spain in 2:02:13 (shown above).

The athletes move next week to Santa Fe, Argentina where they face a 57K journey down a river and a 88K event the following week in Hernandarias to Parana.

More photos of the exciting race between Simon and Alexander and various race festivities can be seen here.