Strong field for Fina Marathon World Cup

Fujairah : A record field of 55 men and 27 women will take to the water in the eighth and final round of the Fina 10 kilometre Marathon Swimming World Cup off the Fujairah International Marine Club (FIMC) today.

"This is the biggest number of entries that we have had in the history of this competition," Championship Director Ayman Saad told Gulf News.

Leading the men's competition will be South African Chad Ho, who has nearly been assured of the overall title following his strong finishes during the earlier seven rounds of this competition.

Ho is currently at the top of the standings with 112 points, a good 18 points adrift of second-placed Francis Crippen of the US. Allan Do Carmo of Brazil who is third overall with 60 points will also be unable to touch Crippen's second spot even if he wins in Fujairah today.

However, there is bound to be plenty of excitement as the top finishers is assured of double points for today's race.

Given this scenario, the jostle for the top spot in the women's competition is bound to be even closer as top-ranked Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil has 106 points, just ten off the pace from Germany's experienced long-distance swimmer Angela Maurer. American Eva Fabian is third with 74 points, while Netherlands' Linsy Heister is fourth with 68 and Croatian Karla Sitic is in pursuit in fifth spot with 56 points.

As per competition rules the winner of each race stands to gain 20 points, while the second takes 18 points, the third gets 16, the fourth gets 14, down to three points to the tenth position. All other race finishers get two points each.

However, in the final race of the season the points are doubled, thus giving an outside chance to a consistent performer to stake a claim to the overall crown.

"There is going to be no shortage of excitement at this finale in Fujairah," Saad promised.

The Fina 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup and next Wednesday's tenth and final round of the 2010 Fina Open Water Swimming Grand Prix are being held under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah.

Each of the eight rounds has a total of $20,000 on offer for the top eight finishers, with both the winners taking home $2,500 apiece, while the silver and bronze medalists take home $2,000 and $1,500 respectively.