Wellington's Isaac Foote has won the first medal for New Zealand on the opening day of competition in the Oceania Swimming Championships in Noumea today.
The 19-year-old, originally from Masterton but now coached by Gary Hurring at the Wellington regional high performance centre, finished third in the 5km open water swim.
The outstanding Australian pair of Rhys Mainstone and Trent Grimsey were first and second, with Foote holding out teammate Troy Balvert for third.
The two New Zealanders swam together, with Foote just managing to out-touch Balvert with just 32/100ths of a second separating the pair.
The pool competition begins tomorrow and continues until Sunday. In action for New Zealand tomorrow is Australian-based Cameron Simpson in the 50m butterfly, Ewan Jackson and Matthew Glassford in the 200m freestyle and Ben Gillies and Kurt Crosland in the 100m backstroke.
