Radford pushes Huitenga to State Championship glory
Swimming Western Australia
Published: Jan 7, 2013 06:46:38 PM Updated: Jan 7, 2013 06:27:13 PM
Champion Lakes Regatta Centre Armadale hosted a number of fierce battles of endurance at the 2012 Swimming WA State Open Water Championships on Sunday 9th December.
New Zealand visitor and London Olympic Qualifier, Kane Radford was at the centre of two tireless tussles for first place in both the men’s 5km and 10km events.
The 2011 and 2012 Tiburon Mile winner elected to record a time for the 5km race, whilst completing the 10km distance.
“I found it quite difficult to race the 5km and 10km in the same swim”, said Radford.
“I haven’t done a 10km race since the second Olympic qualifier in Portugal, so it was really good to do another one before New Zealand Nationals in January.”
After a grueling 10km Radford sensationally edged out the 2012 Australian Open Water Swimming bronze medallistSimon Huitenga to take the win in 2:00:49.56, a mere 0.01 seconds in front of Huitenga and feat almost unheard of in marathon swimming.
“I just tried to stick with him as long as possible”, said Radford.
Content with second place and official State Champion title, Huitenga was grateful for the extra pace applied by the visiting Kiwi.
“The race was pretty much what I had expected. It was good that Kane came down for a race”, said Huitenga of Perth City.
“Over the last 500m it was quicker then it probably would have been if it was just me. He was sitting on my feet for most of the second 5km so I wanted to stay in front doing all the work”.
The men’s 5km race resulted in a similar finish with a group of three swimmers including Radford vying for first place. The lead changed constantly with less than a body length separating the leading three swimmers as the final 30m approached. Amongst the contenders were 2012 Australian Open Water Champion Rhys Mainstone (58:31.15), and series leader Paul Laver (58:31.72).
Radford’s marathon endurance gave him the edge over his current UWA Uniswim training partners in the sprint to the finish. The 22-year-old’s final burst of speed allowed him to touch ahead of the official 5km State Champion Mainstone and silver medallist Laver to take the win.
In the women’s competition, London Olympic marathon swimmer Heidi Gan has been crowned the 2012 State Champion over 10km after taking out the race in 2:07:53.24.
Perth City’s Gan was too strong from the start, swimming stroke for stroke with the second pack of leading men to finish fourth overall.
“I’m really happy with the race. I had third place getter in the men’s 10km Jeremy Brooke-Smith swimming with me the whole way”, said Gan.
“It was really fast. I was pushing it today. It wasn’t easy”
“We did a 10km time trial in training yesterday, so having back to back 10km’s is really good training”.
After only attempting open water swimming for the first time in 2011, the silver medallist in the women’s 10km event Sacha Downing of UWA Uniswim is proving age is no barrier. The 15-year-old held her own amongst the more experienced competitors in the 10km race to finish sixth overall (2:13:23.32).
Like New Zealand champion Radford, Downing also competed in the 5km division where she collected the coveted gold medal in 1:04:54.07.
For official 2012 State Open Water Championships photos, please visit www.modoiview.com.au
Other results:
10km Medalists
15/UM
1 Guy Harrison-Murray 2:22:26.87
2 Nicholas de Bomford 2:25:49.29
15/UF
1 Sacha Downing 2:13:23.32
2 Alandra McDowell 2:19:04.26
3 Rebecca Robinson 2:29:27.98
17/UM
1 William Rollo 2:08:27.09
2 Lachlan Tassell 2:17:47.97
17/UF
1 Caitlyn James 2:26:03.86
18/OM
1 Kane (V) Radford 2:00:49.56
2 Simon Huitenga 2:00:49.57
3 Jeremy Brooke-Smith 2:07:50.32
18/OF
1 Heidi Gan 2:07:53.24
2 Elizabeth Bellis 2:22:05.45
5km Medalists
13/UM
1 Michael Verran 1:09:25.40
2 Callum Lauriston 1:10:17.67
3 William Robinson 1:10:51.77
13/UF
1 Emma Hargrave 1:13:37.75
2 Constance Reynolds 1:18:42.40
3 Niamh Brogan 1:20:32.41
15/UM
1 Jack Osborne 1:02:59.66
2 Zachary Bevan 1:03:58.17
3 Nicholas de Bomford 1:08:00.04
15/UF
1 Sacha Downing 1:04:54.07
2 Alandra McDowell 1:07:23.86
3 Logan Bristow 1:07:28.51
17/UM
1 Jake Platt 1:03:08.38
2 Aidan Schubert 1:08:42.62
3 Thurston Hewitt 1:09:21.44
17/UF
1 Caitlyn James 1:09:23.34
2 Samantha Aitken-Fox 1:11:08.96
3 Kelly Rasmusen 1:13:52.57
18/OM
1 Kane (V) Radford 58:29.82
2 Rhys Mainstone 58:31.15
3 Paul Laver 58:31.72
18/OF
1 Elizabeth Bellis 1:09:45.73
2 Rebekah Weller 1:11:18.78
3 Chloe Itzstein 1:12:57.25
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