Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Nathan Capp dominated the 3.3 km race at the State Capital Classic in Wellington, New Zealand. He finished almost half a minute ahead of the field in nearly perfect conditions on Oriental Bay.

The 22-year-old led from start to finish, taking advantage of a good tactical decision at the start where he was one of only two of the elite swimmers to choose the left hand side of the course. The decision was a wise one.

By the first marker, Capp was already 10 meters in front of 2014 Commonwealth Games swimmer Dylan Dunlop-Barrett. He extended that lead over the next three markers with victory in sight by halfway.

Capp says the start was crucial. “I definitely thought the left would be favoured so I kind of had 20 metres on everyone before we even came together.”

With Capp far ahead, the race for second was much closer. Dunlop-Barrett, Liam Albery and Ben Ruback went shoulder-to-shoulder as they rounded the iconic Pt Jerningham Lighthouse at the 2 km mark. But it was 18-year-old local Albery who shifted into an extra gear over the last part of the race, finishing second 29 seconds behind Nathan Capp. Dunlop-Barrett hung on for third, one second ahead of Ruback.

2014 State Capital Classic Results:

1. Nathan Capp (Auckland) 37:37
2. Liam Albery (Wellington) 36:07
3. Dylan Dunlop-Barrett (Auckland) 38:23
4. Ben Ruback (Wellington) 38:24
5. Ben Campbell-MacDonald (Wellington) 40:06

2014/2015 State Ocean Swim Series Standings (after four rounds):

1. Yasunari Hirai 200.00
2. George O’Brien 199.14
3. Phillip Ryan 198.77
4. Liam Albery 198.39
5. Michael Sheil 197.52

Photos of Nathan Capp rounding Pt Jerningham Lighthouse and crossing the finish line are courtesy of Mark Tantrum Photography.

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association