Danie Marais, Michelle Weber Win 10K Metsi Open Water
Brenton Williams reported on the latest swim from Jeffreys Bay in South Africa.“We had a great turn out at Metsi Open Water Swim. The warm water and sweltering weather made for some great swimming at Marina Martinique for Round 3 of the Metsi Open Water Swim Series. Swimmers from all over South Africa descended upon Jeffreys Bay to race for qualifying times for next month’s South African Open Water Swim Championships.”
Danie Marais who trains with national coach Graeme Hill in Durban qualified for the 10 km marathon swim with a leading time of 2 hours 3 minutes. “Marina Martinique is a great place to swim and I am stoked to have swum a qualifying time here”, said the Cape Town native. Michelle Weber from Durban won the women’s 10 km division within the South African qualifying standard.
Kirsten Marriott won the 5 km women’s race over Tarry Els and Hannah Haswell. Marriott has dominated the 5 km distance in the Eastern Cape this season.
Daniel Jones managed to beat veteran swimmer Byron Lockett in an exciting face-off in the men’s 5 km event with Joshua Bellairs in third. All three men made their national qualifying times along with Seth de Swart.
St Francis Bay swimmer Amika de Jager was the first woman home in the 3 km event followed by Amy Mardon and Tammy Geyer. The men’s 3 km event was won by Dylan Smith who just managed to beat Daniel Jones, who, earlier in the day had won the 5 km swim.
Trisha Pollicutte won the women’s 1 km event with Rachel Mather in second and JBay swimmer Michele Strydom in third. Craig Cole won the men’s 1 km swim over Rushen Pillay and Adam Morgen.
“The next open water swim is the Metsi Eastern Province Open Water Swim Champs that will be held at Marina Martinique on February 2nd. Open water swim training takes place every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 5:45 pm from the old shark tanks at Marina Martinique. Visiting swimmers are welcome to join,” explained Williams. “Paddlers are also invited to train at Marina Martinique at the same times as the swimmers.”
Photo of swim start by Clive Wright.
Copyright © 2014 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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