PATTEN AND PAYNE SHINE ON WORLD STAGE
Britain's long distance swimmers gained an excellent start
to the 5th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships with
both Cassie Patten and Keri-Anne Payne finishing in the top
ten to qualify their place at this year's Olympics against
a world-class field.
Patten sent a clear message of intent to her competitors
for the Olympics by claiming the silver medal just behind
last year's World Champion Larisa Ilchenko of Russia.
Last year's World Championship silver medallist Patten (Stockport
Metro) got off to an excellent start alongside club-mate Payne
as they battled to get to the front of the pack. Payne hit
the first turning buoy in the lead with Patten following close
behind.
As the athletes moved towards the 1km mark Patten made her
move and began stretching out the pack to take the lead. At
the second turning buoy, Patten had a full body length lead
over Ilchenko who had overtaken Payne.
When the race entered the half way point Payne was in third
place behind Ilchenko and Patten, but found herself slip further
down as the race entered the final lap.
Patten remained in the lead throughout the race and controlled
the pace but with Ilchenko and Du Toit fighting it out close
behind she showed her strength to keep herself in with a chance
of a medal.
Ilchenko's sprint finish proved too much for Patten as she
overtook the Britain in the final 500m and claimed the gold
medal in a time of 2:02:02.7. Patten secured her silver medal
and the vital Olympic qualification spot with a time of 2:02:05.8.
"I am overjoyed with that result," Patten said.
"I was really hurting in the final lap but I just thought
that if I kept on I would become the first person to qualify
for both the pool and open water and this is what I wanted
so I kept myself going and got the second place.
"Last night I was really nervous, I didn't doubt myself
but I knew that it would be a really tough race. I knew that
one wrong move and I would get pushed back because of the
quality of the field.
"Girl's races do tend to be closer than the men's races.
I just wanted to be outside of the pack because it is a better
when you have some space."
Patten showed real strength of mind and body to overcome
the challenge of competing alongside the world's best all
vying for a top ten finish.
"I didn't have a plan going into the race. I just wanted
to get in there and enjoy it. I didn't want to be in the lead
but after a good start I found that it was the natural place
for me to be. I hit the 800m mark and pushed it out a bit
because it was all very close.
"I have led races in the past and I haven't got the
result after it. I knew that I wanted to be out of the pack,
I heard lots of whistles blowing and I looked around and saw
lots of people all within a couple of metres of each other
and I knew that I was in the best place.
"I really enjoyed myself out there I just went out and
relaxed and it was the best I felt in a 10km race today. My
stroke rate was good throughout the race and that was really
great to see. I got a good time and I know I have work to
do before the Olympics but this is a great starting place."
The bronze medal went to Spain's Yurema Requena with a time
of 2:02:07.2.
Payne slipped down the field as she got stuck in the pack
but finished in 8th place overall to guarantee her place in
the British Open Water Olympic squad with a top ten finish.
"I planned to stick to the front of the pack,"
Payne said. "I started well and I was in the top three
for a long part of the race but there was a lot of fighting
and I slipped back a bit, but I do think I should have stayed
closer to the leaders.
"It is great to have qualified and I am pleased with
the result. Pool swimming is my main focus and so to qualify
in open water is a definite bonus. It is great to be one of
the first people to qualify in both the pool and in open water.
"I am now going to get back to the pool and work on
my medley training and my gym work to improve my fitness for
future races."
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