Radford finishes 8th at World Uni Games

National champion Kane Radford was disappointed with his eighth placing in the 10km open water race on the final day of swimming competition at the World University Games.

Fresh off an 11^th placing in the latest FINA 10km Marathon World Cup, Radford was confident of a strong performance.

The race was very physical which proved challenging for the Kiwi pair of Radford and Auckland’s Phillip Ryan who finished 10^th.

“It was a very difficult race. There was a lot of things thrown in there, a lot of guys who were new to open water who did not know how to swim with others around them,” Radford said.

“It was not the result I was looking for and definitely disappointing.”

While the course was excellent, the temperatures proved a challenge.

“You couldn’t ask for a better course. The water temperature was around 26 degrees, the first time I’ve swum in water that hot.”

He injured his finger after a clash with a swimmer in front of him, although he said it did not prove an issue at the time.

Russian Anton Evsikov out-sprinted Italian Matteo Furlan for the win with another Italian Mario Sanzullo third.

Radford came home in front of the second chase group in 1:56.29, 1m20s behind the winner, with Ryan a further 10 seconds back in 10^th.

Radford was using the event as his final shakedown before the FINA World Championships which begin in Russia in two weeks.

It brought an end to New Zealand’s swimming campaign at the World University Games, where they achieved four finals achieved by Laura Quilter, Daniel Hunter and the women’s 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays.

CAPTION: Kane Radford in action. (Credit: BW Media)