COPACABANA BEACH, December 12. THE men knew it was going to be a dog fight, they just didn't expect the waves to be so rough and the conditions to be so challenging. But the men from Italy, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Germany and Argentina were up to the task.<\/p>\n
An 800m swim followed by a 200m beach run, five times, was the goal for the made-for-TV event on Copacabana Beach. Although Olympian Valerio Cleri just edged Chad Ho, Allan do Carmo and Trent Grimsey in the sprint race at the 2011 King and Queen of the Sea extravaganza in Copacabana Beach in Brazil, it was anyone's race to win. The men would take it out and try to get in the best position coming into the surf zone. <\/p>\n
On the first lap, Chad and Lucas Kanieski of Brazil set the pace, but the field was right behind. The split times were 8:36, 8:36, 8:37, 8:37, 8:37, 8:38, 8:38, 8:38, 8:38, 8:44 (Grimsey) and 8:45. <\/p>\n
On the second lap, Chad opened up a bit of a lead with a planned move towards the front, but the pack went with him in the early stages. Defending champion Alexander Studzinski was in the mix. The split times were 16:58 (a 8:22 split), 17:02, 17:04, 17:06, 17:07, 17:12, 17:13, 17:14, 17:15, 17:18, 17:40. <\/p>\n
On the third lap, Trent moved up from nearly the back of the pack and was feeling strong pushing the pace. The field thinned out a bit as some of the men ran right past the feeding stations. The split times were 25:33 (a 8:35 split), 25:33, 25:34, 25:38, 25:40, 25:41, 25:47, 25:48, 26:19, 26:20, 26:58.<\/p>\n
On the fourth lap, Trent held his ground, but Cleri continued the pressure around the massive turn buoys. "I got caught underneath one of those buoys<\/i>," said Chad. "They were huge and I went under the buoy when caught the [anchor] rope. But coming into shore, I was looking for a wave. I didn't get one<\/i>." The split times were 34:00 (a 8:27 split), 34:02, 34:03, 34:05, 34:06, 34:16, 34:17, 34:35, 35:36, 35:36, 36:25.<\/p>\n
The last lap was an all-out sprint. With the ocean swells continuing and the sun beating down on their laps, the men put on quite a show for the national TV audience. Around the last turn buoy with 100 meters to go, Cleri finally caught up with Trent. "I knew they might catch me, so I conserved a bit of energy for the finish<\/i>." And the finish was dramatic as Cleri stood up first for the final 50-meter charge up the beach. It looked like the Italian might take it, but Grimsey's long legs and momentum after an initial stumble were too much. "I didn't know I could do it, but it felt great<\/i>," said Trent who now appears back in form after a long illness took him down for the 2010 season.<\/p>\n
The final times were as follows:
\n1. Trent Grimsey (AUS): 41:58
\n2. Valerio Cleri (ITA): 41:59
\n3. Chad Ho (RSA): 42:04
\n4. Allan do Carmo (BRA): 42:12
\n5. Alexander Studzinski (GER): 42:29
\n6. Lucas Kanieski (BRA): 42:48
\n7. Diego Villarinho (BRA): 42:49
\n8. Guillermo Bertola (ARG): 43:31
\n9. Hugo Alberto Ribeiro (BRA): 44:35
\n10. Matheus Evangelista (BRA): 44:36
\n11. Glauco Rangel (BRA): 45:56<\/p>\n