Mandi Maritz stars for SA at International Lifesaving Cup

Team South Africa’s queen of the beach Mandi Maritz was on fire on day one at the Sanyo International Lifesaving Cup in Japan.

Maritz, who also starred at the competition in 2017, had no equal in the women’s flags in taking first place.

She finished second in the women’s sprints and then helped South Africa to third place in two of the team events.

South Africa finished the day in fourth place, with defending champions Australia and New Zealand in a class of their own. Hosts Japan A are third.

Maritz, among Team South Africa’s females, enjoyed the most individual success and Joshua Fenn was the pick of the South African men’s squad. Fenn finished third in the surf ski and second in the prestigious ocean man/iron man.

Team South Africa’s men and women took third in the ocean men and women’s relay.

Shane Maguire was third in the men’s sprint, Cheyne Haupt third in the men’s board race and Sasha Lee Corris-Nordengen third in the surf race.

Sunday’s second day will be a repeat of the 11 disciplines from the first day, and Saturday and Sunday’s overall totals will combine to determine the winner.

Australia have dominated the event since its inception a decade ago and are the defending champions.

South Africa, in 2017, finished fourth and in 2016 they ended third.