Radford makes solid start to world swim championships
Rotorua teenager Kane Radford (pictured) had finished 22nd in the 5km Open Water Swim at the 12th Fina World Swimming Championship in Melbourne today.
The 16-year-old, one of the three youngest swimmers in the field, was only 60m from the winners after swimming in the big lead pack for most of the four-lap race off St Kilda beach.
It proved a solid workout for the young New Zealander with his main focus on the 10km event this Wednesday, finishing fourth among Commonwealth swimmers and 22nd from 39 starters.
German Thomas Lurz won in 56.49.60, with the first 25 finishers all within one minute of the winner with the quality of the Europeans apparent with top Autralian hope and surf lifesaving star, Ky Hurst finishing 10th.
National Open Water Coach Carl Gordon, New Zealand’s most experienced open water swimmer, was pleased with Radford’s effort.
“He looked quite strong throughout and was able to stay with a lead pack of about 25 swimmers,” Gordon said.
“The pack swam together for the first three laps. The pressure came on with about 800m remaining and the big pack broke up into three smaller groups with Kane in the third of these.
“Even then this group was only 50m to 60m from the winners who it was a very even race.”
Gordon said he will debrief the swim with Radford as they prepare for Wednesday’s 10km event. Radford finished 26th at last year’s world championships over 10km in Naples, and open water swimming will make its debut over this distance in
Beijing.
“That’s the main aim. This gave Kane the chance to test the course and get a good competitive swim under his belt. He is one of the youngest swimmers out here and has a lot to learn.
Gordon said conditions chopped up during the day with the women having the best of the conditions and the men slowed by the chop.
Kate Brookes-Peterson, who was born and raised in New Zealand, finished third in the women’s race competing for Australia. Brookes-Peterson competed for New Zealand until she moved to Australia in 2003.
Results:
Men: Thomas Lurz (GER) 56:49.6, 1; Evgeny Drattsev (RUS) 56:50.7, 2; Spyridon Gianniotis GRE) 56:56.6, 3; Kane Radford (NZL) 57:46.6, 22.
Women: Larisa Ilchenko (RUS) 1:00.41, 1; Ekaterina Seliverstova (RUS) 1:00.43, 2; Kate Brookes-Peterson (AUS) 1:00.47, 3.
For interviews contact:
Carl Gordon, NZ Open Water Coach, Tel 021 0426031 (before 6pm please)
For further information:
Ian Hepenstall, Sports Media NZ, Tel 0275 613181, E: ianhep@xtra.co.nz
