Kieren McGill comfortably won the 5 km endurance race in this year's Sri Chinmoy Lake Swims- held in fine weather in Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin. McGill won in an impressive time of 1:09:48.
Less than a minute later, Emma Fitzgibbon and Shanyn Sparreboom swam an exciting race to be the first female. For the last few metres, they swam neck and neck, matching each other stroke for stroke. The race was decided not in the water, but in the final sprint to the finish line. In the end, Fitzgibbon won in 1:10:32, four seconds ahead of Sparreboom. Sacha Saharov was the second male finisher, in a time of 1:16:26.
The 2.5 km race also provided some exciting battles, with winner Nathan Sliwka (39:27) defeating Eanon McGill by just one second. The race was also decided in the finish chute. In third place was Steve Whan (41:27), the NSW State Government's Member for Monaro, and a regular Lake Swims competitor.
Since the first Lake Swims event was held in 1987, they have become popular with swimmers around Australia, many of whom use the races as training for the ever-popular Sri Chinmoy Triathlon Festival. For the past three years, the Lake Swims have benefited from an innovative computer timing system devised by Russell Baker, one of the hard-working volunteers who helps to make the race a success.
The 2.5 km race also provided some exciting battles, with winner Nathan Sliwka (39:27) defeating Eanon McGill by just one second. The race was also decided in the finish chute. In third place was Steve Whan (41:27), the NSW State Government's Member for Monaro, and a regular Lake Swims competitor.
Since the first Lake Swims event was held in 1987, they have become popular with swimmers around Australia, many of whom use the races as training for the ever-popular Sri Chinmoy Triathlon Festival. For the past three years, the Lake Swims have benefited from an innovative computer timing system devised by Russell Baker, one of the hard-working volunteers who helps to make the race a success.
