DOLPHINS DOMINATE TRYING CONDITIONS

Guam, January 12: Australia has dominated the Olympic distance 10 kilometre open water competition at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Guam.

Sixteen-year-old Victorian Belinda Bennett led a 1-2 Australian finish in the women's event from Gold Coaster Danielle Defrancesco. Ian Hanson reports...

While in a thrilling finish to the men's race, Western Australian Rhys Mainstone swam the race of his life to win silver behind American Ryan Feeley.

The swimmers had to contend with changing currents and swells in the idealic but deceptive in shore conditions.

And the well drilled and well prepared Telstra Dolphins squad adapted better than most nations.

It was a just reward for Bennett who just missed bronze in a fingernail finish with Zsofia Balazs from Canada in last night's 1500m freestyle final.

It was a different story in the open water with the powerful, improving Nick Veliades coached distance swimmer charging to the lead and away from Balazs 200m from home.

It was a gold medal move from Bennett who admitted it was the toughest conditions she has ever contested.

"That is my fifth 10km event and without doubt the toughest," said an elated Bennett who with Defrancesco were swamped in the water by their team mates.

"The different currents made it a lot harder but after missing the bronze medal last night it is certainly very sweet."

Defrancesco, spurred on by her coach, the masterful waterman, Denis Cotterell, went out after Bennett in the closing stages.

"We worked together and it paid dividends....I'm so happy to win the silver medal and for Belinda."

Defrancesco is a former Australian Primary Schools Triathlon champion who with Bennett will form the basis of the next generation of distance swimmers.

Meanwhile, for 18-year-old Perth spare parts mechanic Rhys Mainstone, the Guam conditions were just like home.

Used to the rough and tumble of the Rottnest Island open water classic, the Matt McGee coached Mainstone used all his experience in the testing waters.

He swam the best line through out the entire race and when it came down to the sprint finish he was able to position himself perfectly in the frantic last 100 metres.

He was only just out-touched by Feeley, who recovered after swimming around a moored surf ski with 250m to go.

"Those conditions really suited me - in fact I'm used to much worse than that at home," said Mainstone.

"It's rewarding to win the silver and makes you want to continue all the hard work."

Australian open water head coach Greg Towle was elated with the results.

"It is very pleasing indeed to know that these kids have done the work and they have the character to go handle it and go on with it," said Towle.

"It also showed once again that it's not always the best swimmer that wins but the best open water swimmer who can adapt to the conditions."