Chase Travis got the 2018 FINA Open Water World Junior Championships off to a fast start.
The 16-year-old American won the gold medal in the girls 16-17 7.5K open water race in Israel, finishing in 1:32:02.8. She led the entire race.
Italian swimmers Giulia Berton (1:32:59.7) and Giulia Salin (1:33:00.8) finished second and third, respectively.
While Travis won by a wide margin, the boys race was quite a bit closer.
France’s Jean-Baptiste Cluisman won the race in 1:24.22.8, holding off a charging Danil Nemolochnov from Russia, who finished in 1:24.28.7. Hungary’s Zoltan Tabi took the bronze medal at 1:24.31.1.
In the girls race, Italy’s Iris Menchini won 1:00:44.6, never trailing. She finished nearly 16 seconds ahead of Hungary’s Mira Szimcsak (1:01:01.02). Mariah Denigan of the U.S. took the bronze medal at 1:01:06.6, hanging on for a medal by just a tenth of a second ahead of Spain’s Janna Blaya Corrons.
In the boys 14-15 5K race, Russia’s Aleksandr Stepanov won gold in 58:53.8, finishing ahead of teammate Ivan Morgun (58:55.5).
Hungary’s David Betlehem (58:56.5) took the bronze.
Racing in his home country, Israel’s Orr Horev was fourth in 59:01.4, while Canada’s Alexander Axon (59:04.9) was fifth, the highest open water finish by a Canadian.
Congratulations