Gorman’s Beijing bound after Noosa triple treat – Santacaterina claims first title in Noosa Blue Swim - 20 May 2007

Australia’s Commonwealth Games 800m silver medallist and 2008 Olympic hopeful Melissa Gorman successfully defended her 2km Noosa Blue Water Swim title for the third time but it didn’t come easy with a sprint finish. Josh Santacaterina took out the men’s category for his first victory at the 4th annual Noosa Blue Water Swim this morning.
Gorman who trains at the Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton swim club was in the leading trio along with Kate Brookes-Peterson and Sarah Windsor from start to finish.
“Kate and I were swimming together and Sarah was at the back for most of the way so we were all bashing each other up.,” said Gorman.

Gorman tried to shake the pair in an effort to put some distance between them and give herself the mental edge.

“I’m not a runner and did not want it to come down to a sprint, but unfortunately that’s exactly what happened and I’m just lucky I got over the top of Kate today,” said Gorman.

For Windsor it was dejavu – the Nambour girl had a tough sprint in 2006 when Amy Thompson relegated her to third after some rough tactics.

Windsor got the upper hand this year taking third place by 26 seconds from Thompson.

Gorman could not wait around for presentations, she had to head back to Brisbane to contest the 400m free in a Grand Prix meet.

Gorman will now focus on training and heads into camp from next Saturday on the Gold Coast ahed of the National Short Course championships next month.

She is now focussed on making the Australian swimming team (400m and 800m) for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Santacaterina had his work cut out for him this morning as local Dev Lahey took it out early in the open men’s 2km swim. Lahey finished third last year and decided to employ a new tactic which almost paid off.

“It was a hard race, Dev really went out hard from the start and it took me till about the half way mark till I caught him,” said Santacaterina following the race.

The mill pond conditions suited the pool swimmers and Santacaterina took full advantage of it in the closing stages.

In the end Santacaterina had just a 6 second buffer over Lahey with David Browne hanging on for third place.

Santacaterina heads to Europe tomorrow to contest three FINA World Cup races in Portugal, Spain and London. He will contest the 10km event in his preparation at qualifying for the Australian Team to compete in Beijing where the 10km swim will make its debut.

Santacaterina needs to finish top two at the National Championships in December to qualify for the World Championships in April to be held in Seville, Spain.

Australian swimming legend of the 50’s and 60’s John Konrads celebrated his 65th birthday today by competing in the 2km swim for the third time.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than a swim in one of the most glorious places in the world,” said Konrads after finishing.

Former Olympian Robert Van der Zant easily one his category by nearly two and a half minutes.

Following with 2km swim competitors in the 1km event set sail from Little Cove, the first to arrive back was defending champion Sean McCullagh from locals Matt Green and Bill Maish. McCullagh cruised to victory with the race between Green and Maish a lot closer.

Local Kelly Norris was the first female in the 1km event from Dana sole and Kate Cherry.

Encouraging numbers from nippers to veterans turning out for the new Viridian 500m Splash and Nipper Challenge.
 
Noosa turned on perfect conditions this morning as record numbers attend all three events – 2km Noosa Blue Water Swim from Tea Tree Bay around the headland to Noosa Main Beach, 1km Ray White Ocean Swim from Little Cove to Main Beach the new Viridian 500m Splash and Nipper Challenge along Noosa Main Beach.

Kippen McCauley was the winner of a trip to the Fiji Ocean Swim, Karen Stone the Solomon Islands trip and Stephen Kime was the delighted winner of the Vanuatu Ocean Swim. The packages include airfare for one, four night’s accommodation, transfers and event entry fee.

Overall Results

2km Noosa Blue Water Swim

Male
1.         Josh Santacaterina         Greenslopes                            22.41
2.         Dev Lahey                       Sunshine Beach                      22:55
3.         David Browne                  Brisbane                                 23.08
4.         Kieran Carrigan               Tarragindi                               23.27
5.         Nicholas Darcy                 Buddina                                  23.49

Female
1.         Melissa Gorman             Boondall                                  23.54
2.         Kate Brookes-Peterson  Redcliffe                                  23.55
3.         Sarah Windsor               Nambour                                 24.01
4.         Amy Thompson               Alexandra Headland               24.27
5.         Jamie-Lee Austin            Gold Coast                              25.09

1km Ray White Ocean Swim

Male
1.         Sean McCullagh             Albany Creek                          17.07
2.         Matt Green                    Sunrise Beach                         18.07
3.         Mark Taylor                    Bardon                                    18.13

Female
1.         Kelly Norris                     Yaroomba                                 18.08
2.         Dana Sole                       Paddington                              18.39
3.         Kate Cherry                     Joyner                                     19.03

500m Viridian Splash & Nipper Challenge

Male
1.         Robbie Hayes                 Noosa                                        8.58
2.         Joshua Elmslie                Tewantin                                   9.06

Female
1.         Bonnie McDonald           Southport                                  7.23
2.         Kristy Fairbanks             Brisbane                                    8.40

For further information or to arrange interviews or photographs contact Lisa Pringle, Media Manager on 0417 005 743 or email lisa@usmevents.com.au