Auckland swimmer Phillip Ryan made a significant breakthrough when he went solo to win the State Insurance national open water 10km championship in Taupo today.
The 20 year old showed the benefit of his experience on the FINA World Cup circuit last year, when he jumped out early and stayed clear, eventually winning by more than a minute in an outstanding performance.
Philip Ryan leading as swimmers complete their food stop
(Photo: Photosport / Swimming New Zealand; click to enlarge) |
Former Manawatu swimmer Cara Baker, now based on the Gold Coast, was equally impressive, finishing third overall in a sprint finish with Wellington’s Casey Glover.
Baker, 20, was 40 seconds ahead of second placed Samantha Hoschke-Edwards from Australia in the women’s contest.
Cara Baker
(Photo: Photosport / Swimming New Zealand) |
Ryan, from the Waterhole club and coached by Judith Wright, had overcome a night in hospital earlier in the week after chlorine inhalation at a swim camp.
“Thankfully it was just a one-day thing. I have worked really hard for this and I’m in good shape,” Ryan said.
“The plan was to go hard early. I made my move on the second lap and swam in the middle of the course which is where I got my lead. I have put in the miles and the hard work in our training camp and I knew I could hold on. I gave it all on my last lap. It was a really good swim.”
Ryan said his focus is on the 2012 London Olympics.
“The next step is to take it to the Australians at their nationals next month. I wanted to take it out hard today to test my fitness and see how long I could hold on. This gives me confidence for next month.”
New Zealand swimmers had to finish in the top five today to progress to the Australian Championships at Penrith in March. They need to finish in the top four there to qualify for the world championships in Shanghai where the top 10 will earn automatic selection for the 2012 Olympics.
Ryan’s coach Judith Wright said the decision to compete overseas last year has started to pay dividends. He swam in the FINA World Cup series events in Hong Kong, Mexico and Dubai.
“He is a different swimmer as a result. He knows what it is all about and what he has to achieve to get to the top in open water swimming. I think it was a good investment.”
Baker, who swims for the Howick Pakuranga club while in New Zealand, was equally impressive, dominating throughout although she did not taper for this event.
“First place is what I was chasing although I had plenty of competition early on,” Baker said. “To be third overall exceeded my expectations. I wanted to key off the boys but I did not think I would be able to get that far up in the field with them.
“I am pretty pleased this that performance. Now we have a month before the Australian Championships which is the one I am focussing on.”
She was in a lead bunch of eight swimmers through the first two laps and made her move over the closing 5kms to push into second place overall before Glover edged her in the sprint home.
Baker said she is a much improved swimmer from 12 months ago when she also won at Taupo, the benefit of training under renowned Australian coach Denis Cotterell.
“I am training much better and getting much better results as a consequence. Our group with Denis is now mostly males so I have to push myself every day in training.”
Most of the swimmers will compete in the national 5km championships tomorrow with the titles held in conjunction with the Epic Swim Festival, a range of recreational open water swims for people of all ages.
Results, State Insurance 10km Open Water Swim
Male
| 1. | Phillip Ryan | Waterhole | 1:58.43 |
| 2. | Casey Glover | Capital | 1:59.52 |
| 3. | Jonathon Pullon | Waterhole | 2:00.29 |
| 4. | Bryn Murphy | Waves, Otago | 2:00.47 |
| 5. | Kane Radford | Rotorua | 2:01.34 |
Female
| 1. | Cara Baker | Howick Pakuranga | 1:59.53 |
| 2. | Samantha Hoschke-Edwards | Australia | 2:00.33 |
| 3. | Laura Baker | Howick Pakuranga | 2:07.48 |
| 4. | Emily Seymour | Australia | 2:09.12 |
For full results see www.swimmingnz.org.nz.
