Jetro, Asher battle it out for two spots
Hoërskool Middelburg's Reece Zowitsky claimed the first title of the 2018/19 open-water swim series on Sunday at Longmere Dam, presented by LowMed Health and Sport Performance Centre.
It is a South African Swim-sanctioned event which saw 68 participants braving the ice-cold water.
Reece (male open) finished the 5 000 metre event in a time of one hour two minutes and 49 seconds.
Thelise Saunders (female open) improved on her time since the last event of the 2017/18 season event in February by 10 minutes, running out of the water in a time of 1:05,21. She was the first female and second-placed swimmer to finish the five kilometres. Jacey Bekker (male open) took third place in a time of 1:51,31.
Over the 3 000 metres, Andrew Matthew (male open) came in first with a time of 38,58 with Jordyn Minifie (female open) taking second in 41,53 and veteran swimmer Michelle Esterhuizen rounding off the podium in 44,40.
It was a race to the finish, as Jetro Piso and Asher Biggs battled it out in the 1 500-metre event.
Jetro bagged the gold medal with a time of 22,02 with Asher hot on his heels with a time of 22,19. Jetro swam a 21,18 during the previous event held in February.
The first female swimmer to complete the 1 500-metre was Hannah Drewes in 25,13.
The second series will take place on November 4, also at Longmere Dam.
It will see the first 10-kilometre category since the event was introduced in 2016.
Photos: Hennie Homann / www.hhphotoxpress.co.za
