Written By JOHN HAHN
Ledger Correspondent
LAKE ALFRED | Todd Anderson became the first American to win the UIM World Boat Racing Championship in the 175cc hydro classification Sunday at Lions Park on Lake Alfred. He defeated Massimo Rossi of Italy by a mere 1.5 seconds for the title.
Both drivers totaled exactly 1,100 points, but it was the Norhtlake, Ill., resident that smoked the course with his best three times of 3:12.94 or better, and he totaled 9:34.95 to Rossi's 9:36.92, despite a course-best 3:05.17.
Marcin Zielinski of Poland was third with 750 points and Kristi Ellison of Fayetteville, N.C., was fourth, overcoming a disastrous accident when her boat flipped, the first of the three-day meet, on the start of the fourth and final 175cc heat of the day.
"I'm a little sore, but otherwise OK," said the 50-year-old Ellison, who has been racing powerboats since she was 14. "The boat was riding high all day and really didn't expect it to go airborne. There was a little breeze and I was on the inside (for the flying start)."
