SWIMMING Preview: Weertman looks to clinch Marathon World Series title

Dutch Olympic 10 km Open Water Champion Ferry Weertman

The final leg of the eight-stop FINA/HOSA Marathon Swimming World Series is coming in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on Friday, with the seasonal title still on the line in the men’s division. The current standings, after seven races:

Men:
1. 78 Ferry Weertman (NED)
2. 62 Jack Burnell (GBR)
3. 55 Simone Ruffini (ITA)
4. 51 Marcel Schouten (NED)
5. 50 Matteo Furlan (ITA)
6. 44 Fernando Ponte (BRA)
7. 42 Rob Muffels (GER)

Women:
1. 96 Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA)
2. 66 Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED
2. 66 Rachele Bruni (ITA)
4. 62 Leonie Beck (GER)
5. 52 Finnia Wunram (GER)
5. 52 Xin Xin (CHN)
7. 41 Samantha Arevalo (ECU)

With the scoring at 20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-3 for the top 10 places, Weertman – the 2016 Rio champion in the 10 km Open Water event – can only be passed by Burnell, and only if Weertman finishes 10th or lower.

Weertman has participated in five of the seven races, winning the opener in Doha (QAT) and finishing second once, fourth twice and fifth once. Burnell was the last race at Chun’An (CN) and has one second and one third on the season. The seasonal title will be the first for either.

The women’s seasonal title was wrapped by Brazilian star Cunha, who has placed in six of the seven races, winning twice plus a second, third and fourth. She’s no stranger to winning the World Series; this is her third title after winning in 2010 and 2014. Van Rouwendaal, Arianna Bridi (ITA), Haley Anderson (USA) and Xin are the other winners on tour this season.

There is prize money at stake in the race as well as the seasonal series. The race prizes are $3,500-3,000-2,500-1,700-1,500-1,200-950-650 for the top eight places and $38,000-26,000-18,000-15,000-11,000-8,500-5,000-3,500 for the seasonal placings down to eighth.

Look for results here.