SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
New Zealand Open Water champion Kane Radford has defended his title in the famed Tiburon Mile in San Francisco Bay today.
It is the third time in four years that Radford has won the race that attracts many of the best open water swimmers in the world for the US$10,000 winner-take-all prize purse.
The Tiburon Mile, started in 1999, attracts 1000 swimmers for the one nautical mile race from Ayala Cove off Angel Island in San Francisco Bay to the shore of Tiburon.
It again proved a close fought affair, with knowledge of the strong tides a significant advantage, with the leading 10 swimmers within 12 seconds of eachother.
Radford, coached by Mark Regan at Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance Centre, took the best line and held off the challenge from Australian brothers Ridge and Codie Grimsey, winning in 21m43s. The Rotorua swimmer initially took a higher line but Grimsey moved over into his wake and with 500m remaining he took the lead. But by the time they rounded the final buoys into the Tiburon Harbour, Radford had fought his way into the controlling position.
Ridge Grimsey finished just two seconds behind while third across the line was the defending women’s winner, Melissa Gorman. The brilliant Australian was seventh in the recent London Olympics and won the State Ocean Swim Series in New Zealand last summer.
Results, Tiburon Mile Open Water Swim:
Men: Kane Radford (NZL) 21:43, 1; Ridge Grimsey (AUS) 21:45, 2; Codie Grimsey (AUS) 21:47.
Women: Melissa Gorman (AUS) 21:46, 1; Christine Jennings (USA) 21:51, 2; Ashley Twichell (USA) 22:09, 3.
