LAKE TAUPO. Kane Radford and Cara Baker won more national titles at the State New Zealand Open Water Championships. 24 hours after qualifying for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim qualification race, the Kiwi duo showed they have the potential to carry New Zealand’s colors at the 2012 London Olympics.

Kane was in the lead pack throughout the first loop before he and Josh Richardson carved out a comfortable 30-second lead.

It was the older swimmer who had enough kick towards the end to win in 59:30, ten meters ahead of his younger Australian rival. Michael Mincham of Waterhole, Auckland finished third.

On the women’s side, Cara Baker set a pace comparable to the men as she was among the top 10 swimmers overall. Winning comfortably in 1:03.27, it was the third straight national 5K title for the 21-year-old. Cara finished nearly three minutes clear of Charlotte Webby who out-sprinted Australian Emily Seymour for second.

The results are as follows:


1. Kane Radford (Rotorua, HPC) 59:30
2. Josh Richardson (Australia) 59:34
3. Michael Mincham (Waterhole, Auckland) 1:00.31
4. Casey Glover (Capital, Wellington) 1:00.33
5. Jonathon Pullon (Waterhole) 1:00.36

1. Cara Baker (Howick Pakuranga, Counties Manukau) 1:03.27
2. Charlotte Webby (Aquabladz, Taranaki) 1:06.01
3. Emily Seymour (Australia) 1:06.11
4. Shelby Wilson (Fairfield, Waikato) 1:12.17
5. Grace Sommerville (Ashburton) 1:08.56

Photos by Photosport.

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