British Olympian Jack Burnell prides himself with his relaxed attitude and even he admitted he took things a little too easy before winning today’s 5km Australian Open Water swimming Championship at Mooloolaba Beach.
As the 99 starters in the open and age group wave made their way from the beach to the deep water start, some 50 metres off the shore, Burnell was still sitting casually under the announcers tent.
As he swam towards the start line he heard the starting signal and he was still some 20 metres behind the field.
“I think I was a little too relaxed today,” said Burnell, who finished second to US world champion Jordan Wilimovsky in yesterday’s 10km National title.
“I was still swimming towards the start line when the field set off but I knew I had time to catch up…”
And catch up he did, allowing team mate Caleb Hughes and Australians Rhys Mainstone and Jarrod Poort to take turns at the lead, before he and Canada’s London Olympian Richard Weinberger and Japan’s Yasunari Hirai swam out of the pack to stage a thrilling three-man sprint to the finish.
In the end it was Burnell, who will be one of the leading contenders for a podium finish in Rio who touched first in 56 mins 01.03 secs with Hirai second in 56:01.37 and Weinberger third in 56.01.51 with Mainstone the first Australian and National champion in 56.04.39.
The women’s race saw a repeat of yesterday’s 10km finish with Sunshine Coast girls Chelsea Gubecka (Kawana Waters) and Kareena Lee (Mountain Creek, Mooloolaba) again showing why they are the top two Australian contenders for this year’s Olympic team.
The only change from yesterday’s podium was the performance of TSS Aquatic swimmer Kiah Melverton edging out Japanese Olympian Yumi Kida.
Lee was quick to take control in the first two laps with Gubecka, waiting to strike, panther-like on the third lap when she took over and maintained the lead, covering the field in the final stages, her ability to change pace quickly, coming into play.
“That caps off a wonderful weekend ere in Mooloolaba, my playground and to see Kareena right alongside me yesterday and today is so exciting for both of us as we prepare for the Olympic qualifier in Portugal in June,” said Gubecka.
And there was a surprise welcome back to the beach for Lee, whose pet dog Daisy gave a brilliant display to greet the Australian silver medallist with a brilliant display of dog paddle.
The information above was courtesy of Swimming Australia
