Open Water Swimming
Christina Harris of Nelson, New Zealand, won the Pacific Open Water Challenge 10km race on Monday, the opening event of the 2026 Ocean Swim Festival in Samoa.
Harris, 63, crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 12 minutes, after organisers changed the course because of rough conditions around Manono Island.
According to organisers, strong morning winds made the original route unsafe. Swimmers instead completed a revised point-to-point course from Samoa Beach Resort to the Manono-uta Wharf.
Neil Drouet, 45, of Queenstown, New Zealand, finished second in 3:16:00, four minutes behind Harris. Mike Cochrane, 45, of Auckland, New Zealand, placed third in 3:18:00, six minutes behind the winner.
