The Whangamata surfer Ella Williams has finished third at the International Surfing Association World Surfing Games in Nicaragua.
New Zealand surfer Ella Williams Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Williams posted a 10.33 point total in the final to finish behind winner Tia Blanco of the United States on 14.03 and runner up Leilani McGonagle Costa Rica on 12.37 points.
The result secured New Zealand eighth place overall, three placings up from 2014 but one short of qualifying for the ISA China Cup which plays host to the top seven nations.
It is the team's best finish since 2010. Costa Rica won the overall teams title ahead of Portugal, USA and Peru who finished second through fourth.
Earlier Taranaki's Paige Hareb bowed out of the event placing fourth in her reperchage heat to finish eighth overall.
It is Williams' best result at the ISA World Games, her previous best being a fourth for the copper medal in 2013.
Williams says she's super happy with the result, a third is great and she'll just keep working towards that first placing.
