Cooke wins swimming event on World Cup debut in Mexico

JAMIE Cooke has won the swimming event on his World Cup debut to finish 22nd overall in the first event of the season in Mexico.

The teenager touched out teammate Nick Woodbridge, who came 21st in the overall standings, to finish first in the 200m freestyle in a time of 2:00.70 minutes.

But finishes outside the top twenty in the fencing and the riding meant the 19-year-old slipped down the rankings coming just four points behind Woodbridge with 5440.

Compatriot Samuel Weale finished an impressive fourth in the first major event of the year in Playa del Carmen with a points total of 5704.

The Czech Republic's David Svboda won gold with 5808 points while Russia's Serguei Karyakin took silver and Lithuania's Andrejus Zadneprovskis captured the bronze.

Svboda, who is the current world number two, claimed his first World Cup victory of his career courtesy of a consistent performance with a high of a fourth place finish in the fencing.

The women's final takes place later today with British representatives Heather Fell, Louise Helver and Samantha Murray taking part.