Rotorua's Kane Radford came in seven seconds off the top spot at the Sand to Surf ocean swim at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
In somewhat of an upset, Tauranga swimmer Nathan Capp triumphed in the men's elite race, followed by Radford in second and series leader Philip Ryan a few strokes behind in third. The surf conditions were the calmest they had been all summer for the swimmers who took on the four races, ranging from beginners through to the 2.6km elite race around Rabbit Island and back to the Mount Main Beach. It was the fifth event in the State Ocean Swim Series, with double points on offer in the finale to come in Takapuna in three weeks.
Ocean swim specialist Radford, who is based in Perth to get superior training, had no answer to Capp's hot start and was happy enough to settle for second place.
"With open water the line is so crucial. I wanted to come in closer to get a wave and some little runners in but there was just nothing," Radford said. "I am happy with how I went. I felt really nice and high in the water and I'm not that puffed afterwards so it is all the right signs I need before worlds.
"I was being lazy today and just sitting behind Nathan and just following him where he was going. We got pretty close to a couple of rocks out there. But my slow start hurt as I am no good at these beach starts. I am so far behind off the start it is just playing catch-up for me really.
