Aussies take Midmar Open Water events

IT WAS a double Aussie delight at the 2019 Midmar Mile, with the annual Open Water event remaining in foreign hands in the men’s and women’s races.

Australian Open Water specialist Nick Sloman came painstakingly close to breaking Chad Ho’s record to claim the title yesterday.

He stopped the clock on 17:01, just a second off the record Ho set in 2016 when he won his record seventh title.

Michael McGlynn finished in second place in a time of 17:28, with Danie Marais bagging the bronze in 17:29, finishing as the first South African. Ho had to be content with seventh place, posting a time of 17:43.

Rio Olympian Matthew Meyer was the last South African to win the title when he won it for the first time in 2017.

In the women’s race, Kareena Lee made it a double victory for the Australians, claiming the title in a time of 18:21.

Former winner Michelle Weber finished in second place with a time of 19:26, with compatriot Samantha Randle rounding off the podium with the bronze medal, clocking 19:29.