SWIMMING: Weertman clinches Marathon World Series title

Dutch open-water star Ferry Weertman didn’t win at the final leg of the eight-stop FINA/HOSA Marathon Swimming World Series in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on Friday. In fact, he was seventh.

But that was more than enough to clinch his first FINA Marathon World Series title, with 86 points, ahead of Britain’s Jack Burnell (64) and Italy’s Simone Ruffini (57).

Germany’s Florian Wellbrock won the 10 km race in the final strokes over Olympic 1,500 m champ Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 1:53:00.90-1:53.01.40! It was Wellbrock’s second win of the season.

The women’s seasonal title had long been wrapped up by Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha, who nevertheless finished third behind Italy’s Arianna Bridi (2:00:21.80) and Rachele Bruni (2:00:25.70; pictured above). It was also Bridi’s second win of the season.

For the season, Cunha piled up 112 points for her third career title (also in 2010-14), ahead of Bruni (84) and Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED: 76).

The race prize money was $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.

FINA Marathon Swimming World Series
Abu Dhabi (UAE) ~ 9 November 2018
(Full results here)

Men (10 km): 1. Florian Wellbrock (GER), 1:53:00.90; 2. Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 1:53:01.40; 3. Kristof Rasovszky (HUN), 1:53:01.70; 4. Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA), 1:53:01.90; 5. Mario Sanzullo (ITA), 1:53:04.30.

Women (10 km): 1. Arianna Bridi (ITA), 2:00:21.80; 2. Rachele Bruni (ITA), 2:00:25.70; 3. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA), 2:00:26.20; 4. Esmee Vermuelen (NED), 2:00:26.40; 5. Aurelie Muller (FRA), 2:00:27.00.