Swimming: Teens dominate open divisions

CLOSE STUFF: Central Hawke's Bay's Bevan Jacobs, right, pipped Lachlan Cairns of Hastings by one second in the open men's division of Saturday's 2.5km race. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

It was a case of third time lucky for Alena Kamper as she won the women's 2.5km title in the Napier Port Ocean Swim off Napier on Saturday.

"My previous best was a third so it was quite exciting to win it in my third attempt," Kamper said after stopping the clock at 30m14s.

However the fact the 16-year-old Sacred Heart College student won the event without using a wetsuit added to the significance of the feat.

"I did it without a wetsuit last year. This year I trained without a wetsuit so I thought I would be better without it," Kamper said.

A butterfly specialist who has swum for the Napier Aquahawks club for nine years, Kamper, who also won the 15-19 years age group, headed home an Aquahawks trifecta in the women's division. Clubmate Sarah-Kate Birkett was second, six seconds behind Kamper, on her way to victory in the under-15 division.

Third place went to Ruby Adsett in 31m36s. She was also second in the 15-19 years age group.

Adsett was hoping for a three-peat but admitted last week she hadn't done the same amount of training as she did before last year's race which won in 27m53s. Surf lifesaving has been her priority this summer.

Just one second separated the top two finishers in the open men's race which 15-year-old Central Hawke's Bay College student Bevan Jacobs won in 28m16s. A faster sprint, once out of the water saw Jacobs pip Lachlan Cairns of Hastings.

"I was a bit worried about the sprint at the end because I'm not a runner and I actually started running in the water," Jacobs said.

A Central Hawke's Bay Swimming Club member for six year and freestyle specialist, Jacobs, was competing in the event for the fourth time and his previous best placing was a fifth.

"Determination was the key to my success this time," he said.

In the past Jacobs has won silver medals in 5km and 10km events at the national open water championships. Two years ago he won silver in the 1500 metres at the national age group champs in the pool and will be hoping for similar success at the Wellington-hosted national age group champs in April.

"I prefer the long distance stuff," added Jacobs who will compete at a meet in Hamilton this weekend.

Hawke's Bay triathlete Kaleb Wright was third, six seconds behind Cairns. Jacobs, Cairns and Wright also formed the 15-19 years age group trifecta.

Event director Trevor Adsett was thrilled 230 starters competed across all divisions in the seventh annual event.

"While we had wet weather it was quite calm out in the ocean which contributed to ideal swimming conditions."

A stand-up paddle board race was staged for the first time. There was also a 1km classic, 300m dash and 200m kids classic.