CAPELL AND CLARK DOMINATE 25KM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

SYDNEY, March 2: Australia will send an eight-strong team of open water swimmers to this year's FINA World Championships in Rome after Brendan Capell and Shelley Clark won today's 25 kilometre National Championships at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.

In the men's event it came down to a sprint finish between former world champion Capell and his young St Peters Western training partner, David Browne, with the more experienced Capell winning by six seconds.

Gold Coast youngster Rhys Ferszt (Palm Beach-Currumbin), who stayed with Capell and Browne for the first 19.5 kilometres finished third in an impressive 25km debut.

In the end it was Capell who won in a time of five hours 06 minutes and 29 seconds from Brown (5:06.35) and Ferszt (5:10.14) and the 24-year-old world champion from 2004 will represent the Telstra Dolphins Australian team at his seventh World Championships.

Clark, 28, who along with Capell will represent Australia in the Great English Channel race in August, was a clear winner in the women's event in five hours 34 minutes and 45 seconds.

She cleared out and was never headed and won by 800 metres from Surrey Park, Victoria 16-year-old Lauren McNamara (5:44.27) and Henley and Grange, SA 16-year-old Hannah Edwards (6:25.09) - both debutants over the gruelling distance.

Clark has now won seven Australian 25 kilometre National titles and will attend her eighth World Championships in Rome.

"As far as 25km races go, that one really hurt, I don't know why but it did...I think I'll just go home and sleep," said Clark, who is excited about racing in Rome and the English Channel.

"The English Channel is like a dream for marathon swimmers like us. It was always so expensive, so to receive an invitation to race the Channel is very exciting."

Australia's National Head Open Water Coach Greg Towle said he was delighted with the performances and the depth of talent in Australian open water swimming.

"The experience we now have in this team with swimmers like Brendan, Shelley and Kate Brookes-Peterson will be important for the younger ones, some on their first team," said Towle.

"But to have two members of our Junior Pan Pac team in Danielle DeFrancesco and Rhys Mainstone break through to make their first open team is a great step forward.

"Across the board we are very excited with some of the performances from swimmers who are just starting out in open water swimming and as National Head Coach I couldn't be happier with the entries and the overall strength of our program.

"It is very encouraging indeed and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in Rome."

Telstra Dolphins Australian Open Water Swimming Team, FINA World Championships Rome.

MEN: Brendan Capell (St Peters Western, QLD) 25km; Trent Grimsey (Albany Creek, QLD) 5km and 10km; Andrew Beato (Blacktown City, NSW) 5km; Rhys Mainstone (City of Perth, WA) 10km

WOMEN: Shelley Clark (Hunter, NSW) 25km; Melissa Gorman (Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton, QLD) 5km and 10km; Kate Brookes-Peterson (Nerang, QLD) 5km; Danielle Defrancesco (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 10km.

Head Coach: Greg Towle. Manager: John Saliba. Physiotherapist: Merryn Woodward

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