Fast finishers: Jesse Coulson and Dominique Hart won the men’s and women’s Portsea Swim Classic events on the weekend. Picture: Darren McNamara

EMERGING ocean water swimmer Jesse Coulson blitzed the field to claim his first victory in the 1.5km Blazer Portsea Swim Classic on the weekend.

Coulson, 20, of Williamstown, sprinted home to win in 15 minutes and 51 seconds.

“I’m stoked to win it. I was hoping for a podium finish, but this is pretty amazing,” Coulson said.

Thomas Hay took silver in 16.06 and Josh Doherty claimed bronze in 16.21.

First over the line in the Women’s 1.5km Classic was 19-year-old Dominique Hart. The science student claimed the double, winning the 2.5km Gold race earlier in the day.

“It was such a fun race, but so close at the end,” Hart said. “It was a sprint right to the end. I wasn’t sure if I had won it. But it is pretty cool.”

Hart stormed home in 17 minutes and three seconds to pip Sophie Caldwell (17.05) and five-time Portsea Swim Classic winner Kelly Stubbins (17.09).

About 2000 competitors tackled the 35th running of the race over the 1.5km Classic distance and the 2.5km Gold event. They started at The Cutting near Portsea pier and headed west around Police Point past Point Nepean to finish at Jarman Oval in the Quarantine Station.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 26 January 2021