TARSHA Umbers continued her open-water winning streak yesterday by taking out the Port Campbell Twelve Apostles Plunge.
The 15-year-old swimmer from Warrnambool blitzed the open and junior female categories to finish with a time of 17 minutes and 37 seconds.
It was Tarsha's second win of the Shipwreck Coast Series, after she took out the Port Fairy Moyneyana Swim earlier this month.
Despite the stunning victory, the youngster could not stay for any post-swim-celebrations because the marshalling tent at the Victorian Country Swimming Championships, in Warrnambool, was calling her name.
The keen swimmer jumped straight into the car and headed for AquaZone, to compete in her country title heats.
Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club secretary Amanda Couch said Tarsha stunned an admiring crowd.
"She was the first female home overall, which is a great effort by a 15 year old," Couch said.
A record 210 competitors plunged into the south-west waters for the 1.2 kilometre swim.
Couch said conditions were perfect for the race back to shore.
"Conditions were pretty good, it was nice and warm because the sun was out," she said.
"There was a little bit of swell out the back, and a bit of chop but everyone handled it well."
Overall winner Ryan Jennings swam to his third consecutive Port Campbell victory with a time of 15:40.
Like Tarsha, the 19-year-old also won the first round of the local ocean swim series.
Despite having second-placegetter Chris Russell close on his tail, Jennings said he was always confident of the win.
"It was nice and calm conditions, so I had an easy swim," he said.
"I knew Chris was behind me but it wasn't a sprint to the finish line or anything."
Russell finished only nine seconds behind Jennings, in a time of 15:49. Jennings said the race was similar to his previous victory in Port Fairy.
"It's hard to compare races because the conditions impact the times so much but it felt pretty much the same as Port Fairy," he said.
In other results, Hayden Comello was the first junior male home in a time of 16:06.
Clare Hand took out the open female category with 20:47, Sandra Skilbeck won the female masters (18:47) and Christina Laws trounced the senior female group in 20:51.
Kerryn McKenzie won the veteran section with (21:58), and Helen Lovegrove was victorious in the super veterans with (24:47).
Kris McCartney hit the sand first in the open male swim (15:57), while Simon Walsh was the first master male ashore (16:57).
Ross White won his veterans' category (18:21), and Clark Smock was too good in the super veterans (20:07).
The final leg of the Shipwreck Coast Swim Series will be held in Lady Bay, Warrnambool on Sunday, February 7.
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