Swimmer Cara Baker finished a creditable 16th in a torrid 10km race on the first day of the open water world championships in Canada yesterday.
The Queensland-based New Zealander finished a minute behind winner Martina Grimaldi, of Italy, in her first outing at the world championships at Lac-St-Jean in Roberval.
The field of 39 battled aggressively over the four-lap course, with five swimmers red-carded for over-vigorous action including Australian champion Melissa Gorman, who had led at the 7.5km mark.
Baker survived the onslaught with a solid performance, tacking on to the lead bunch for the first half and eventually finishing in 2h 6m 45s, just behind early leader Ekaterina Seliverstova, of Russia.
It may not have been a race for the faint-hearted, but neither did it present any favours to the pre-race favourites, with Olympic gold medallist Larissa Ilchenko, of Russia, failing to finish and British world champion Keri-Anne Payne back in seventh.
Grimaldi made a powerful sprint over the final 500m to edge out compatriot Giorgia Consiglio, with China's Yangiao Fang a surprise third.
"Overall it was a really good effort from Cara," Swimming New Zealand head coach Phillip Rush said. "It is only her third open water swim and the first time she has encountered just how physical it is at this level.
"Cara went in hoping she might get a top 10, which she is definitely capable of with some experience behind her. She was the third-ranked Commonwealth swimmer behind two well-performed Brits and she will be much better for this experience."
Rush said he expected Baker could go well in the 5km championship tomorrow.
- NZPA
