Dominant start: Emma Barnes and the HiJact crew (middle) are sitting atop the leaderboard of the F2 women’s category at the halfway point of the competition, having won both of the first two races. Photo: IWWF.
Three Echuca-Moama locals are right in the mix for world titles in their respective categories at the halfway point of the IWWF World Waterski Racing Championships in Gosford, NSW.
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Racing in the F2 Women’s category, Emma Barnes made a fantastic start to the competition behind the HiJact boat, winning the opening race on Saturday to establish an early lead, with fellow Australian Molly Palser in second and American Sophia Rivera rounding out the podium.
There was no loss of momentum when the boats were back in the water on Monday either, as she again took a comfortable victory over Rivera in second and Palser in third to tighten her grip at the top of the leaderboard.
The local product has accumulated the maximum 2000 points available from the opening two races, giving her a 48.02-point lead over Palser in second, while Rivera is just 0.53 further back in third.
Great start: Leilani Cartledge (centre) has been in fine touch to start the IWWF World Waterski Championships, claiming wins in each of the first two junior girls’ races behind the Gro Up F2 boat. Photo: IWWF.
Leilani Cartledge is in a rich vein of form, too, grabbing wins in the opening two junior girl’s category races behind the Gro Up F2 boat to cement her spot at the top with half the competition having been run.
In a dominant display, Cartledge was first across the line by a solid margin in the opening race ahead of Australian pair Demi Simmonds and Kianna Walsh in second and third, before reinforcing that lead with another commanding performance in race two on Monday.
Crossing the line nearly three seconds ahead of Walsh, Cartledge extended her lead in the standings to 128.28 points, accumulating the maximum 2000 from two races so far ahead of Walsh in second on 1871.72 points, while fellow Australian Charlotte Neal is currently third on 1861.73.
Kohdi Cartledge also remains in a strong position following a consistent opening two races.
An incredibly close opening race in the junior boys’ category saw Cartledge finish second by just 0.1 seconds, pipped at the post by American Ryder Tovatt, but he still managed a big haul of points given the margin to the winner was so small.
Race two saw a complete mix-up of the results, although Cartledge’s fourth-placed finish was enough to ensure he still occupied second behind Australian Jaali Walsh, with only 10.36 points separating the pair at the halfway point of the competition.
The third race is scheduled for 11am on Wednesday, while the finale will be held on Saturday, with all of the action live-streamed on the World Water Ski Racing Championships Facebook page.
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