“Super Mum” Hayley Lewis Wins Aussi Open Water Trials

By Brooke Hanson

HAZELWOOD PONDAGE, Australia. October 6. THREE
time Olympic "Super Mum," Hayley Lewis, once again stamped her dominance on Australian Swimming, winning the 5K marathon swim at Austraia's Trials for the World Open Water Swimming Championships in blustery conditions at the Hazelwood Pondage, Morwell (150km south east of Melbourne) today.

Hayley, fresh from her third Olympic campaign, proved she is as fit as ever and ready to take on the world at the end of the month at the First FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships at Waikiki Beach (October 29 to November 4).

The men's 5km event saw Miami's dynamic duo Ky Hurst and Stephen Penfold swim stroke for stroke throughout the 5km course. The final 25 metres saw a sprint to the finish between the Queensland teammates with the official time keepers awarding Hurst the win, just touching out training partner Penfold by one second. Hurst finished in a time of 56:28 and Penfold finishing in a time of 56:29.

Both swimmers were ecstatic to make the Telstra Dolphins team for the World Championships. "We've been talking about it a lot in training and discussed our tactics for the race. We put on bursts of speed to break away from the field" said Penfold. Hurst said "It was great working together ,we even spoke a few words to each other during the race".

The women's event proved another major triumph for Lewis, who returned home to Brisbane immediately after the Olympics, where she just missed the 800 meter freestyle final – but with no throughts of retirement.

Swimming in choppy conditions and taking the lead after the first 200 metres, Lewis swam ahead of the field, leading the entire race, finishing first in a time of 57:54.

Although regretting taking such an early lead, Lewis said later: "It was hard to take the lead, I couldn't see where the buoys were. It was definitely the most difficult race of my life as I really had no idea where I was going".

Despite these conditions Lewis was happy to make the Telstra Dolphins Australian team and will now set her new goal to finish in the top ten at the World Championships.

"I went into the race with a bit of pressure as my whole family has booked their flights to Honolulu, I wanted to finish first so I wouldn't be left at home," a relieved Lewis said.

Hayley's husband Greg walked along side her for the whole 5 kilometers,cheering and whistling, providing the encouragement she needed to win.

Hayley's teammate for the World Championships will be second place-getter 14-year-old Sarah Bowd who finished strongly in a personal best time of 58:23. Bowd's time was over a minute faster than her silver medal swim at last year's Pan Pacific Championships.

Bowd trains alongside Olympic medalists Geoff Huegill, Leisel Jones and Tarnee White at the Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton club in Queensland under coach Ken Wood.

After the race the Queensland schoolgirl said: "It was very windy and hard to see, I saw Hayley's kick ahead of me and followed her". The teenager said that she had been training really hard for the event and is overwhelmed to be a part of the World Championships, saying: "I have never been overseas before so I'm very happy to make the team".

Before heading to Hawaii at the end of October, Bowd will contest the Telstra Australian Short Course championships in Melbourne next week. Her busy schedule of events includes the 100 and 200m Butterfly, and the 200, 400, 800, and 1500m Freestyle events, as well as the 4x200m Freestyle club relay.

Other place-getters in the women's 5km event included N.S.W. swimmer Brooke Townsend who finished third in 59:43, Trudy Hutchinson QLD fourth 1:03:28 and fifth Western Australian Natalie Benson 1:03:50. These three girls will compete in the 10km event to be held on Day Two of the trials (Saturday).

In the mens event it was the Hurst and Penfold show – training partners with 1500m Olympic gold medalist Grant Hackett, who showed their dominance.

They all train together under the guidance of Denis Cotterell at the Miami Swimming Club on the Gold Coast. Today the boys borrowed the Olympic champion's Speedo Fastskin sharkskin racing suits.Hurst wore the Olympic Leg suit and Penfold wore Hackett's personalized leg suit.

They were sure that Hackett's racing suits would help them make the World Championship team, and they did. Hurst flew straight home to attend a twenty- first birthday party and will be sure to tell his mate Grant Hackett that his racing suits were yet again a success. Penfold will stay on in Melbourne and compete in the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 metre freestyle events at the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships starting next week at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Other places in today's event included the favorite for the 10k and 25k events, Mark Saliba, NSW, who finished third in 57:00, fourth Josh Santacaterina QLD 57:50, fifth Ben King WA 57:54.

The World trials continue tomorrow (Saturday) with the 10km events for men and women starting at 1.30pm and the 25km marathon to be held on Sunday at 10.00am.

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