Cruising In Croatia All Morning And Afternoon
“It is sooo cool. What a beautiful place Croatia is,” describes American Lexie Kelly after the inaugural Croatia Open Water – Split 10K organized by national team coach Slaven Šitić. “The race was run so well and you did not even need a coach for the feedings. Slaven set up an innovative cup holder system so you can swim right by and be easily fed by your coach with your own cups. No trashing of the environment.Even with the clearly-marked loop course, it was really enjoyable with the clear water and perfect water temp of 24ºC (75ºF). You breathe to one side and there are rugged rocky mountains. Then you breathe to the other side and there is a splendid lush scenery of green. And even the warm-up was so different than what I am used to. There was a 50-meter warm-up pool in the sea. Between the pro like Karla and the little kids who did either the 500m or 2 km race, we had a great time.”
World University Games gold medalist Matteo Furlan won the 10 km with Roko Čopac second and Ivan Šitić third. Karla Šitić, 12th place in the London Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, won the women’s division over Kelly and Dina Levačić.
But the day was not over as many of the athletes took off for another race later in the day. “The fun was not over. We went down to the Splitski Riva Port and took a 2-hour ferry rid out to the island of Vis,” explains Kelly. “We got there just in time to receive our medical checks. Then we got on another boat out to an even smaller island off of Vis and did a 2 km circumnavigation race around the island.”
Ivan Šitić reversed places with Roko Čopac in the 2 km race with local sprinter Luka Jukic third. Older sister Karla Šitić won the women’s around-the-island over second-place Dina Levačić and third-place Kelly.
“There were four of us right together at the finish. The awards were as nice as the island: nice trophies, 2 bottles of wine, local fig cakes, a beautiful book about the island, and a little bit of money.”
Croatia Open Water – Split 10K
1. Matteo Pinna Furlan (ITA)
2. Roko Čopac (CRO)
3. Ivan Šitić (CRO)
1. Karla Šitić (CRO)
2. Lexie Kelly (USA)
3. Dina Levačić (CRO)
Copyright © 2013 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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