FORT MEYERS, Fla. — Canada’s Olympic bronze medallist Richard Weinberger captured a silver medal over the weekend in the men’s 10-kilometre race at the Fran Crippen Cup open water swimming event.
Alexander Meyer of the U.S. won the gold Saturday in one hour 52 minutes 47.39 seconds. Victoria’s Weinberger followed in 1:53:22.60, and Andreas Waschburger of Germany was third in 1:53:30.77.
Weinberger led most of the way but couldn’t build a comfortable gap on his pursuers. He credited Meyer’s late-race kick and strategy.
“It’s not just the speed and strengths, but the smarts, too,” he said of Meyer. “He knows there’s one side I like to breathe on so he gets on the other side so I can’t see him.”
Eric Hedlin of Victoria, a silver medallist in the five-kilometre race at last year’s world championships, was fourth in 1:53:38.33, while Philippe Guertin of St-Hubert, Que., was fifth in 1:54:25.47.
The event was a qualifier for the Pan Pacific championships in August in Gold Coast, Australia. Weinberger had already consolidated his spot with a 10th-place finish at the FINA World Cup last week in Mexico. Hedlin and Guertin earned the two other Pan Pac open water spots for the men.
It was an American sweep in the women’s 10-kilometre with Ashley Twichell first in 2:04:23.65, Christine Jennings second in 2:04:24.11 and Emily Brunemann third in 2:04:24.53.
Jade Dusablon of Quebec City was the top Canadian in the women’s 10-kilometre race, finishing fourth. American Ashley Twichell won the gold. Zsofi Balazs of Toronto was sixth, Leonie Pamerleau of Quebec City finished seventh and Heather Maitland of Toronto was 11th. Dusablon, Pamerleau and Maitland were nominated to the Pan Pac team.