Webby qualifies for World Champs

Multi-national champion Charlotte Webby has been selected for the 2017 FINA World Championships after the Australian Open Water Championships near Adelaide in South Australia.

Webby completed the first step of qualifying after winning the New Zealand Open Championship 10km at Lake Taupo in January. The next step was a top six finish among Australian and New Zealand swimmers at the Australian Open Water Championships.

The Taranaki swimmer was ninth overall in 2:11.28 but with only five Australians ahead of her she was within the guidelines and has been ratified for the worlds.

The championships are being staged in Budapest, Hungary from 14- 30 July.

Of the other Kiwis Sammy Winward was 14^th and Stefanie Gillespie 15^th. Winward, who was the 10th Kiwi or Australian to finish, also qualified for the 2017 World University Games.

Webby clocked 1:01.48 to be ninth in the 5km event won by Australia’s Kiah Melverton in 58.06, with Winward 15^th and Gillespie 17^th.

Gisborne’s Matt Scott was best of the New Zealand swimmers in the men’s 10km race won by Canada’s Eric Hedlin in 1:55.01 who was nearly three minutes clear of Australian star Jarrod Poort. Scott was 19^th six minutes behind the winner with Jackson Dawson 20^th and Troy Balvert 23^rd.

Balvert was best of the Kiwis in the 5km swim clocking 59.11 with honours going to Hedlin won in 54.18.

In the age group categories Sebastien Priscott, who was third at the New Zealand Open Water Championships last month, won bronze in the boys 16 years 7.5km event. He was also fifth in the 16 years 5km.

Results:

Men 10kms: Eric Hedlin (Canada) 1:55.01, 1; Jarrod Poort (AUS) 1:57.48, 2; Jack Brazier (AUS) 1:57.49, 3. New Zealanders: Matthew Scott 2:00.57, 19; Jackson Dawson 2:01.16, 20; Troy Balvert 2:02.49, 23.

Women 10kms: Chelsea Gubecka (AUS) 2:06.33, 1; Yukimi Moriyama (Japan) 2:07.25, 2; Kareena Lee (AUS) 2:07.28, 3. New Zealanders: Charlotte Webby 2:11.28, 9; Sammy Winward 2:16.33, 14; Stefanie Gillespie 2:16.35, 15.

Men 5km: Hedlin 54.18, 1; Jack McLoughlin (AUS) 55.12, 2; Poort 56.57, 3. NZers: Balvert 59.11, 17; Dawson 1:01.08, 24.

Women 5km: Kiah Melverton (AUS) 58.06, 1; Lee 59.22, 2; Jessica Ashwood (AUS) 59.41, 3. Also NZers: Webby 1:01.48, 9; Winward 1:05.31, 15; Gillespie 1:06.13, 17.

CAPTION: Charlotte Webby. Credit BW Media.