State Beach Series: Cropp secures first title

Jackson Cropp. Photo / Sam Mayhew

The weather gods were kind for race five of the State Beach Series on Takapuna Beach on Tuesday night.

Calm water and a gentle westerly provided ideal conditions for both runners and swimmers.

Jackson Cropp secured his first title of the series winning the 1 km swim, 16 seconds ahead of John Cosgrove. Cropp has now placed in all five races but still sits in second place behind Steven Kent.

It's turning into a right battle and an exciting one in the women's race with less than 4 points separating the top six swimmers.

Johanna O'Connor squeaked home ahead of Kirsty Wannan and Brenda Russell. Hot on their heels, Shore swimmer Claudia Brick, World Triathlon U19 silver medalist Danielle McKenzie and Olympic triathlete Debbie Tanner. Kirsty Wannan is overall leader ahead of Brenda Russell and Johanna O'Conner.

Tara La Grange continued to dominate the women's 5km beach. Former Olympian Sam Warriner led out on the first 2.5km leg of the race, while Le Grange waited comfortably on her shoulder. Le Grange made her move on the final run home, edging out Warriner by 14". Nick Sutherland led the men's field home 11 seconds ahead of Finn Mason.

In the absence of both Ferguson and Fouhy, Travis Mitchell notched up his second win of the series in the Surf Ski Paddle over a minute ahead of his nearest rival while Rachel Dodwell continued her dominance in the women's race.

Troy Houston won the men's 3km Stand Up Paddle and Stacy Smith the women's.

RESULTS

Ocean Swim 1000/1500m - Male
1 CROPP, Jackson
2 COSGROVE, John
3 WOHLFARTH, Axel

Ocean Swim 1000/1500m - Female
1 O'CONNOR, Johanna
2 WANNAN, Kirsty
3 RUSSELL, Brenda

Beach Run 5km - Male
1 SUTHERLAND, Nick
2 MASON, Finn
3 SELEZNEV, Kostya

Beach Run 5km - Female
1 LA GRANGE, Tara
2 WARRINER, Samantha
3 BOONZAIER, Katja

Surf Ski Paddle 5km - Male
1 MITCHELL, Travis
2 MCLARIN, Simon
3 STIELAU, Oskar

Surf Ski Paddle 5km - Female
1 DODWELL, Rachael
2 SIMPSON, Dene
3 HILDEBRANDT, Katja

Stand-Up Paddle 3km - Male
1 HUSTON, Troy
2 MCASEY, Troy
3 BARFOOT, Greg

Stand-Up Paddle 3km - Female
1 SMITH, Stacey
2 LYTHE, Alana
3 SCHOFIELD, Georgina

Board Paddle 3km - Male
1 BUTT, Stephen
2 WHITE, Max
3 VANDERPUTTEN, Harry

Board Paddle 3km - Female
1 STEPHENSON, Vanessa
2 WILLIAMS, Lauren
3 WILLIAMS, Te Ohorere

Junior Beach Run 2.5km - Male
1 HADDY, Josh
2 ELLIOT, Luke
3 SAXBY, Toby

Junior Beach Run 2.5km - Female
1 LOUGHLIN, Eloise
2 HARDEN, Brieanna
3 ALEXANDER, Ruby

Junior Swim 300m - Male
1 ELLIOT, Aidan
2 HARDEN, Joshua
3 MCPHEAT, Adam

Junior Swim 300m - Female
1 CROPP, Jacey
2 BROOKE, Elle
3 WALKER, Emma