Imperious Hunt and Iffland star in Italy at stunning cliff setting
Champions extend Red Bull Cliff Diving leads with Polignano a Mare wins.
England’s Gary Hunt and Rhiannan Iffland of Australia stretched their lead at the top of the 2019 Red Bull Cliff DivingWorld Series standings with comfortable victories in Polignano a Mare.
Hunt was at his brilliant best in Italy, finishing 50 points ahead of American Andy Jones with Czech Michal Navratil in third as Mexican Jonathan Paredes fell back.Sixty-thousand fans watched on as Iffland also took command, powering past Colombia’s young star Maria Paula Quintero to complete her hat-trick at the spectacular Adriatic Sea location while Belarusian Yana Nestsiaravacompleted the women’s podium.
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Hunt, 34, said: “Jonathan (Paredes) absolutely nailed his first dive today, but I kept my most difficult dive to the end and it did the job. My biggest rival this year (Romania’s Constantin Popovici) is not diving in this competition – he got an injury – so I am hoping he is going to come back fast and battle it out.”
Iffland, 27, explained: “I always put my more difficult dive on day one just to get it out of my mind when I am a bit more fresh. This last dive is actually my favourite one. It is paying off for me this year. Now I can celebrate a Polignano a Mare hat-trick too.”
Red Bull Cliff Diving men’s Italy result:
1. Gary Hunt GBR 418.75
2. Andy Jones USA 368.75
3. Michal Navratil CZE 368.25
2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving men’s standings:
1. Gary Hunt GBR 400 points
2. Andy Jones USA 220
3. Kris Kolanus POL 200
Red Bull Cliff Diving women’s Italy result:
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS 324
2. Maria Paula Quintero COL 278.95
3. Yana Nestsiarava BLR 278.15
2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving women’s standings:
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS 400 points
2. Yana Nestsiarava BLR 290
3. Lysanne Richard CAN 240
