Kean Wins Again in Final Mare Nostrum Swim Meet in France

Wellington backstroker Gareth Kean continued on his winning ways on the final day of the Mare Nostrum swim meet in France today.

Kean, following on from his win in the 100m backstroke yesterday, won the 200m final at Canet-en-Roussillon today.

He clocked 1:59.12, a more than useful time, to claim the title after finishing fifth in the 50m backstroke final earlier in the night.

New Zealand swimmers again picked up three medals, with Kean’s clubmate Samantha Lucie-Smith finishing third in the 400m freestyle in 4:12.41, won by Olympian Melanie Costa (ESP), while Glenn Snyders was third in the 100m breaststroke in 1:01.45, won by Olympic gold medallist Cameron van der Burgh.

In other swims Wellington’s Samantha Lee was sixth in the 50m butterfly final and eighth in the 200m freestyle.

Meanwhile Rotorua’s Kane Radford has finished second in the 10km open water test event in Barcelona.

He clocked 1:51.45 in a strong performance to finish close behind the 2011 world champion Spryidon Gianniotis from Greece.

Philip Ryan was 14th in the same race and 18th in the 5km race while Wellington’s Emma Robinson was an excellent sixth in the 5km and 13th in the 10km.

The Aqua Blacks squad are now in camp in Spain preparing for August’s world championships.

Results:
Open water 10km:
Women: Kerri-Anne Payne (GBR) 1:57.20, 1; Erica Garcia (ESP) 1:57.23, 2; Yurema Juarez (ESP) 1:57.25, 3. Also: Emma Robinson (NZL) 2:02.15, 13.
Men: Spryidon Gianniotis (GRE) 1:50.50, 1; Kane Radford (NZL) 1:51.45, 2; Marcel Schouten (NED) 1:51.48, 3. Also: Phillip Ryan (NZO) 1:52.06, 14.
5km: Aurelie Muller (FRA) 1:02.57, 1; Kalliopo Araouzou (GRE) 1:02.58, 2; Margarita Cabeza (ESP) 1:03.22, 3. Also: Emma Robinson (NZL) 1:03.52, 6.

Mare Nostrum, Canet-en-Roussillon:
50m backstroke: Gerhard Zandberg (RSA) 25.22, 1; Jonatan Kopelev (ISR) 25.53, 2; Aschwin Wildboer (ESP) 25.59, 3. Also: Gareth Kean (NZL) 25.71, 5.
50m butterfly: Jeanette Ottesen Gray (DEN) 25.56, 1; Melanie Henique (FRA) 26.16, 2; Ingvild Snildal (NOR) 26.34, 3. Also: Samantha Lee (NZL) 27.44, 6.
400m freestyle: Melanie Costa (ESP 4:07.59, 1; Winqing Zhang (CHN) 4:10.35, 2; Samantha Lucie-Smith (NZL) 4:12.41, 3.
200m backstroke: Gareth Kean(NZL) 1:59.12, 1; Ben Stasiulis (FRA) 1:59.79, 2; Yannick Bebherz (GER) 1:59.87, 3.
100m breaststroke: Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 1:00.41, 1; Felipe Lima (BRA) 1:00.82, 2; Glenn Snyders (NZL) 1:01.45, 3.
200m freestyle: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:08.41, 1; Franziska Hentke (GER) 2:08.93, 2; Martina van Berkel (SUI) 2:11.58, 3. Also: Samantha Lee 2:16.17, 8.