The World Aquatics Masters Championships Kyushu 2023 kicked off with the 3 km women’s race in Seaside Momochi Beach Park in Fukuoka, Japan.

With a typhoon heading towards the main archipelago of Japan, but still far south of Fukuoka, the air remained quite warm with high humidity and warm waters of Hakata Bay.

A familiar name in the open (ice) swimming world entered the women’s 3 km race and came out victorious in the calm, flat water: Alisa Fatum, the unparalleled multi-time ice swimming champion from Germany. Her German teammate Bettina Merkle swam the second fastest time and won the 30-34 age group.

25-29 Age Group Top Three

1. Alisa Fatum (Germany) 42:28.5
2. Diana Cruz (Mexico) 45:59.6
3. Lauren Williams (Australia) 52:24.7

30-34 Age Group Top Three

1. Bettina Merkle (Germany) 44:12.6
2. Ayaka Matsushita (Japan) 40:52.9
3. Kathriana Mella Gustianjani (Indonesia) 44:47.4

35-39 Age Group Top Three

1. Mami Kida (Japan) 45:05.8
2. Carla Beckmann (Germany) 46:18.6
3. Nazaret Calviche Fernandez (Spain) 50:51.6

40-44 Age Group Top Three

1. Satsuki Hirukawa (Japan) 47:19.3
2. Catalina Ceron Gomez (Colombia) 49:12.4
3. Alma Medrano (Mexico) 49:13.7

45-49 Age Group Top Three

1. Ceri Edwards (Great Britain) 45:18.5
2. Carole Kettenmeyer-Reuland (Luxembourg) 45:18.5
3. Florentina Ciocilteu (Italy) 45:32.2

50-54 Age Group Top Three

1. Diana Duque Correa (Par) 47:33.2
2. Marta Vila Fortuny (Spain) 47:41.1
3. Junko Shioda (Japan) 47:41.6

55-59 Age Group Top Three

1. Daniela Sabatina (Italy) 47:49.0
2. Daniela Deponti (Italy) 52:14.4
3. Sharon Beaver (Australia) 52:50.4

60-64 Age Group Top Three

1. Ingrid Trusler (South Africa) 52:16.0
2. Cathy Munro (Great Britain) 55:43.4
3. Denise Brown (USA) 57:59.3

65-69 Age Group Top Three

1. Carol W Wilson (USA) 58:58.4
2. Amanda Heath (Great Britain) 1:00:04.2
3. Arancha Aranega (Spain) 1:04:12.1

70-74 Age Group Top Three

1. Tracy Clarkson (Australia) 1:10:46.0
2. Ana Maria Canaval (Peru) 1:16:14.5
3. Hiroko Takaura (Japan) 1:20:48.0

75-79 Age Group Top Three

1. Ruth Shaps (USA) 1:04:19.9
2. Cynthia Dutro (USA) 1:19:32.4
3. Yoshiko Saito (Japan) 1:21:36.2

80-84 Age Group Top Three

1. Herilene Freitas (Brazil) 1:33:53.8
2. Ellen Shockro (USA) 1:41:43.0

For more results from the World Aquatics Masters Championships Kyushu 2023, visit seikosports.com/wmc2023. For a full slate of results in the women’s 3 km race, view here.

https://www.youtube.com/live/18b4yzrsEEQ?feature=share

The men’s race is held today at 8:30 am local time in Japan on August 3rd. The men’s race can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/H3sLOb7QyZU?feature=share

© 2023 Daily News of Open Water Swimming – “to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shore“