DAVIES TAKES 10KM VICTORY IN OPEN WATER DEBUT
Olympic medallist David Davies put in a world-class performance
at the South African Open Water Championships in Cape Town
today to seal his place for the next stage of Olympic qualification
in the 10km event.
Traditionally a pool-based swimmer, Davies (Loughborough
University) tested himself in open water as have many pool
swimmers since the 10km was included in the Olympic programme.
A British squad of eight used the event to be selected for
the 5th FINA World Open Water Championships in Seville (3rd
May) where athletes will then try to qualify for the Beijing
Olympics with a top ten finish.
Several other British swimmers including Davies joined the
squad to participate in the South African event. The distance
swimmer took on a tough field to take the win in 1:53:58.00.
He was country mile ahead of his nearest rival - Britain's
Alan Bircher.
In his first ever 10km open water race, Davies went out in
to the championships with an open-mind and put in an unbelievable
performance to record his first win in open water swimming.
For Davies, the strategy was to go out hard and try to establish
an early lead.
"I've been training hard and before I came out to South
Africa I had talked through tactics for the race with my coach
(Kevin Renshaw) and decided to try and get myself an early
lead and really starting kicking in the final 2km," said
Davies.
"I was really comfortable over the first few kilometres.
At one point in the final laps of the race I thought my legs
might die but the motor kicked in and I felt really strong.
"My rhythm was good through the race so I am very happy
with my performance. I felt good in the final lap and to cross
the finish line when I had managed to pull away from the pack
earlier in the race was a great feeling."
Davies will head out to Seville for the World Open Water
Championships later this year where a top ten finish would
qualify him for the 10km event in Beijing.
At this moment in time it is a little premature to give an
answer as to whether Davies would compete at the Olympics
later this year in open water swimming, however if the opportunity
presents itself the Welshman will look at the situation in
more detail.
"At this stage it's hard to say what will happen. If
I do finish in the top ten in Seville then Kevin Renshaw,
Sean Kelly and myself will have a sit down a re-evaluate the
situation," said Davies.
"Open water swimming is one of the most developing sports
in the world at the moment, and Britain's progress in the
event is fantastic and very exciting to be part of.
"The quality of the field in Seville will be very strong
so it will not be easy to qualify but should I make the grade,
the possibility of competing in the 10km at the Beijing Olympics
will be high."
Alan Bircher featured in the men's 10km event at the Mofam
River. The University of Bath swimmer took silver behind Davies
with a strong performance, touching home in 1:55:06.00 and
now joins Davies in Seville following his second place finish.
In the women's event Stockport Metro's World Championship
silver medallist in the 10km event, Cassie Patten was joined
by teammate Keri-Anne Payne.
Both swimmers began their careers in the pool and still continue
to compete in an indoor environment, however both have made
an impressive start to open water as an addition to their
programme.
Payne took the gold medal with a solid performance to finishing
in 2:05:43.00, giving her a great start to 2008 as she looks
ahead to the Olympic year.
Patten had pre-qualified for Seville as a result of her world
silver medal in 2007. The event gave her the opportunity to
experience a demanding 10km event early in the year and came
third with a time of 2:05:51.00.
Also competing at the event were Brett Ferguson, Richard
Charlesworth, Adam Desmond, Jamie Forrest and Daniel Fogg
in the men's 10km.
Charlesworth made it a British one-two-three when he touched
in 1:55:27.00. Fogg came fifth in 1:56:59.00, Forrest touched
home in ninth with a time of 2:07:35.00 and was followed by
Desmond in tenth in 2:09:19.00.
Charlotte Woolliscroft, Rachael Jack, Alice McCall and Paula
Wood joined Payne and Patten in the women's 10km event.
Woolliscroft, McCall, Jack and Wood came home in fifth, sixth,
seventh and eighth place respectively.
Woolliscroft finished in 2:09:42.00, McCall in 2:09:56.00,
Jack touched in 2:13:06.00 and Wood following in 2:13:13.00.
Leading the swimmers in Spain was Head Coach Sean Kelly who
was extremely impressed with the performances of British swimmers
competing in South Africa.
"David Davies put in a phenomenal performance in his
first ever 10km race and to finish ahead of the rest of the
field in the way he did was a great achievement," said
Kelly.
"Alan Bircher is Britain's most experienced open water
swimmer and put in yet another fine performance to secure
his place in Seville also. Keri-Anne put in a great swim in
the women's event to join Cassie in Spain too."
Britain's strength in open water swimming is growing and
results are extremely promising and younger talent is also
being developed.
"All British swimmers had strong swims in their race.
We have a group of junior swimmers coming through the ranks
which includes Richard Charlesworth who took a gold medal
at the European Junior Championships last year," said
Kelly.
"Open water swimming is going through a very exciting
time in Britain and the future looks very promising."
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