Perth young gun narrowly claims Albany Harbour Swim open water title while local takes out women’s win

Young Perth swimmer Max Coten won the 2021 Albany Harbour Swim, narrowly edging out Andrew Donaldson in a thrilling finish on Saturday morning. Coten crossed the line just two seconds ahead of Donaldson, the winner of this year’s Rottnest Channel Swim, to claim the open water title. Albany’s Christine Murray tasted her first success in the Albany Harbour Swim as the first female to finish the race. More than 80 competitors tackled the course that started at Princess Royal Sailing Club and finished at Anzac Peace Park, where a spotlight was set up to guide swimmers home. Swimmers tackled the course solo or in teams of two or four. Paul Blackbeard was the first swimmer to emerge from the water, finishing in a time of 48min 01sec; however he was in the wetsuit division. Coten and Donaldson found a route they liked across the harbour, different to most other swimmers, and with a few hundred metres left they were neck-and-neck. But Coten was able to stand up first and sprint to the finish line to win by just two seconds. Coten recorded a time of 48.28 to claim the men’s open title while Donaldson was close behind with a time of 48.30. “I’ve always loved Albany, the result of the race will definitely be something I remember for a long time,” Coten said. “My late grandmother was head girl at Albany Senior High School, so this race has quite a lot of sentimental value to me. “The conditions were incredibly enjoyable, lovely and warm with minimal current. “When the race started I knew it would come down to a sprint finish. At points in the race I doubted if I could win, but I just had to hang on and trust my race plan.” Local junior competitor Jake Shepherd was third to finish the open water swim closely followed by Murray while Mark Williamson rounded out the top five. Williamson recorded a time of 55.55 to take third in the open men’s category, with Julian Atlas (56.22) and Stephane Dellac (56.43) rounding out the top five. Murray’s impressive time of 55.50 claimed her maiden open women’s title while Nicole Hodgson was the second open female swimmer to finish in 58.36. They were followed by Dorothee Hahne (1h.07.25), Rae Powys (1.07.25) and Julie Isbill (1.08.15). “The harbour swim is always such a good event, and although it can get cold and choppy, I don’t think I’ve ever come out of the water having not enjoyed the swim,” Murray said. “I was really happy with my placing on the weekend, but honestly, I’d be happy no matter where I came because I am always stoked to have the opportunity to be in the water doing what I love. “The harbour swim conditions were surprisingly better than I thought they’d be. “The flood light was the best idea anyone has had, it was the only thing that was guiding me for most of the race. “Other than that, the water was clear and despite the odd rough patch, was far more palatable than some of the previous years.” Shepherd was the first junior male to finish in a time of 55.48 over Itsuki Tomita (58.05). Mia Hawke won the junior female category, recording a time of 1.11.17. Fellow female junior Coco Smargiassi finished the course in an impressive time of 1.04.46 in the wetsuit category. In the legend categories, Leon Staude was the first male to cross the line with a time of 1.04.38 while Maree Hoban (1.08.23) was the first female to finish.