Okimoto And Lurz Win Lake Annecy Pro Swim

Lake Annecy, known as the cleanest lake in Europe, was the French site for a rare mid-week FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup race.

While the race date was unusual, the winners were familiar. Thomas Lurz of Germany continued his winning streak, pulling away from second-place Sergai Bolshakov of Russia with a comfortable 4-second victory.

On the women's side, another familiar face to the podium, Poliana Okimoto sprinted to a similar 4-second victory over Brazilian teammate Ana Marcela Cunha.

Under beautiful weather in 23.7°C water in a popular tourist destination, a large number of swimmers participated (40 women and 65 men from 20 countries) in a fast-paced race that also served as the French national 10K championships - a credit to the host French Swimming Association and its Open Water Swimming director Jean-Paul Narce.

The top 20 women and men's results are as follows:

1. Poliana Okimoto (BRA), 1:58:58.69
2. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA), 1:59:02.69
3. Angela Maurer (GER), 1:59:03.94
4. Karla Sitic (CRO), 1:59:06.97
5. Nadine Pastor (GER), 1:59:07.81
6. Kristel Kobrich (CHI), 1:59:09.47
7. Swann Oberson (SUI), 1:59:28.00
8. Maaike Waaijer (NED), 1:59:28.38
9. Heidi George (USA), 1:59:30.38
10. Célia Barrot (FRA), 2:00:24.22
11. Natalia Pankina (RUS), 2:02:23.44
12. Nika Kozamernik (SLO), 2:02:39.80
13. Gudnitz Trine (DEN), 2:04:14.44
14. Katy Whitfield (GBR), 2:04:52.42
15. Stefanie Biller (GER), 2:05:34.24
16. Daniela Pinto (POR), 2:08:22.10
17. Coralie Plouviez (FRA), 2:08:24.30
18. Johanne Laizeau (FRA), 2:16:30.46
19. Adeline Gagnadoux (FRA), 2:16:30.73
20. Maureen Laurent (FRA), 2:16:35.39

1. Thomas Lurz (GER), 1:52:08.87
2. Sergai Bolshakov (RUS), 1:52:12.37
3. Allan Do Carmo (BRA), 1:52:20.70
4. Brian Ryckeman (BEL), 1:52:21.28
5. Jan Wolfgarten (GER), 1:52:21.87
6. Petar Stoychev (BUL), 1:52:22.53
7. Vladimir Dyatchin (RUS), 1:52:23.30
8. Loïc Branda (FRA), 1:52:24.36
9. Sebastien Fraysse (FRA), 1:52:26.10
10. Tom Vangeneugden (BEL), 1:52:26.47
11. GOMEZ Stéphane Gomez (FRA), 1:52:26.88
12. REICHERT Christian Reichert (GER), 1:52:27.24
13. AZIZ Mazen Aziz (EGY), 1:52:27.62
14. DEN BOER Robin Den Boer (NED), 1:52:28.14
15. HEDEL Joanes Hedel (FRA), 1:52:28.59
16. FOGG Daniel Fogg (GBR), 1:52:28.98
17. VENTURI Bertrand Venturi (FRA), 1:52:39.11
18. FRAYSSE Vincent Fraysse (FRA), 1:54:55.17
19. BOYKOV Vasily Boykov (RUS), 1:54:57.91
20. RAGAB Adel Ragab (EGY), 1:56:13.28

Photo of Poliana Okimoto at the 2009 World Swimming Championships by Michael Sohn.