Moesha Johnson’s Impressive Australian 10km Marathon Title Ignites Olympic Dream For Paris
Australia has a new player in the Olympic 10km marathon for Paris with the Gold Coast’s Moesha Johnson’s impressive victory in the Australian Championship at Adelaide’s Brighton Beach, before defending her 5km crown 24 hours later.
HANDS UP: Moesha Johnson, a comfortable winner in the Australian 10km titler at Brighton Beach. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
The 25-year-old, who has certainly stepped up her quest as a late bloomer in a sport that could see her make her Olympic debut at 27. And with defending champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Kareena Lee (Noosa) delaying her return to competition, Johnson has staked her claim for a major assault for two Australians to qualify for Paris.
Johnson showed she was certainly up for the challenge winning the title in a slick time of 1 hour 58 minutes 25 seconds from Rio Olympian Chelsea Gubecka (Yeronga Park) 1:59:47 with Bianca Crisp (Yeronga Park) third in 2:04:01.24.
And 24 hours Johnson was never headed in her 10km-5km quest, winning the title by almost three minutes from Gubecka (59:07.01) and Crisp (59.14.79) in a mirror of Saturday’s 10km podium finish.
Johnson, a 1500m specialist, who had only dabbled in open water over 5km – has seized an opportunity to also keep her Olympic dreams alive over 10km.
For so long a bridesmaid in distance freestyle Johnson has plyed her trade under Gold Coast coaches Graeme McDonald and more recently Chris Nesbit.
But with Nesbit taking an opportunity to leave a successful pool and open water program he built up at TSAS Aquatic on the Gold Coast and take on the head coaches role with the Carlile organisation in Sydney, his Olympic squad had to seek new coaching arrangements.
And for Johnson her next port of call was celebrated Olympic coach Michael Bohl and his Olympian assistant coach in Janelle Pallister (nee Elford) with the Griffith University program – now training out of the Swimming Australia HUB at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
A move that could well set Johnson up as a serious contender over 10km and 1500m for 2024.
Before today’s race Swimming Australia’s High General manager of Performance Support Greg Shaw knew he had a live one on his hands saying that Moesha had put her hands up at Queensland States saying ‘I want a piece of this.’
“She is in good hands with Bohly and Janelle and of course Michael coached multiple open water champions like, Brendan Capell, Josh Santacaterina and Trudee Stafford (Hutchinson),” said Shaw.
“He was their coach when they were putting down world championships in 25km; Bohly is an experienced coach and has had major influence across a broad spectrum of events and distances.
“Moesha is in good hands there at the HUB program at Southport and it’s good to see her excited about opportunities to challenge herself against seasoned competitors.”
TOUCHDOWN: Nick Sloman quick to touch the finish pad at Brighton Beach today. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
The men’s race again saw Noosa’s Nick Sloman assert his authority as the man to beat on a competitive domestic scene – defending his National crown in a close tussle with Bailey Armstrong (Belgravia, QLD) and Kyle Lee (North Coast, WA)
And in the absence of Tokyo Olympian Kai Edwards, like Kareena Lee, delaying his competitive return, it was Queenslander Sloman who pounced to add another National crown in 1:49.58.22 with Armstrong (1:50.05.95) and Lee (1:50.06.83).
Sloman has been a dominant force in Australia’s open water ranks alongside Edwards and Armstrong – who all fought hard for Australia’s only Olympic berth last year.
And it was obvious that 25-year-old Sloman, 23-year-old Armstrong and 20-year-old Lee also have their sights on 2024 in a big way.
It was Sloman who backed up 24 hours later to add the 5km title to his long list of National crowns, winning the 5km in 53:58.69 and defeating Lee (54:13.35) who reversed the 10km minor placings in a nail-biter from Armstrong (54:13.46).
A GOOD FIST OF IT: Nick Sloman celebrates his 10km triumph. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).