Grimes, Garach Win U.S. Open Water 10K Titles; SOFLO’s Vallmitjana Swims Junior 5K Boys’ Race Saturday

By Sharon Robb
SARASOTA, April 21, 2023—Katie Grimes won the women’s 10K title in the U.S. Open Water National Championships Friday at Nathan Benderson Park.

In a close race, Grimes, 17, of Sandpipers of Nevada surged to overtake the field and won in 1:58.08. Her club teammates Mariah Denigan (1:58:23) and Claire Weinstein (1:58.24) were second and third. University of Florida’s Anna Auld of West Palm Beach was 13th in 2:03:07. Blair Stoneburg of Treasure Coast Aquatics was 19th in 2:05:15.

Grimes was coming off of an impressive 400 IM at the Fran Crippen SMOC last Saturday. She was close to the NAG record for 17-18 (4:31.81), 3/100ths of a second off Elizabeth Beisel’s time in 2011. The time was the second fastest in the world this year.

Grimes, the 2022 World Championship silver medalist in the women’s 1500 meter and 400 IM, was the 10K favorite. She won gold last year at the World Junior Open Water Championships in both the girls 7.5K and team event, and placed fifth in the women’s 10K at the 2022 World Championships.

In another close race, Carlos Garach of Spain won the men’s 10K title in 1:51.05.65 just ahead of Brennan Gravely, the top American finisher in 1:51.05.78 His brother Dylan Gravely was third in 1:51.07.

Brennan Gravley won the Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 2022, an honor named the Fran Crippen Memorial award. He finished tied for tenth in the 5K and 12th in the 10K at worlds. He was part of the American team that finished seventh. Gravley is a senior at University of Florida.

Qualifying spots for the 2023 World Championships were decided off national championships. The winners of the men’s and women’s 10K, Garach and Grimes, both earned a spot in both the 5K and 10K events. The second slot at worlds will go to the top American finisher at the Italian leg of the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup.

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Juan Vallmitjana, 14, competes Saturday in the junior boys 5K national race. Teammate Izzy Wilson, 17, swims Sunday in the junior girls 7.5K.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Anna Auld Top Florida Gold Coast Finisher At U.S. Open Water National Championships; SOFLO’s Wilson Makes Top 20

By Sharon Robb
FORT MYERS BEACH, April 3, 2022–University of Florida freshman Anna Auld of West Palm Beach was the top Florida Gold Coast finisher at the U.S. Open Water National and Junior Championships this past weekend at Lynn Hall Beach Park.

Despite rough weather conditions, Auld was among the Top 6 American 10K finishers qualifying for the current U.S. Open Water National Team, putting herself in position to qualify for the 2022 FINA World Championships U.S. roster.

Auld was seventh overall in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 50 seconds. With three swimmers from France among the top seven finishers, Auld qualified as fourth American.

Blair Stoneburg of Treasure Coast Aquatics just missed making the U.S. team by 1 minute and 7 seconds and one spot in 2:26:58. She was the seventh top American finisher.

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Isabelle Wilson was 19th in the 7.5K in 1:55:56. The only other FGC swimmer, Erin Miller of St. Andrew’s Aquatics was ninth in 1:49:29.

Teenager Katie Grimes of Sandpipers of Nevada and Axel Reymond of France won the 10K titles.

It was Grimes’ first senior-level open water national title. She stayed with the lead pack and finished more than a minute ahead of the field.

“I really had a good time out there today, the conditions were a little rough but I’m learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Grimes said. “I was swimming with a ton of girls so I was really happy with the outcome and I’m excited for the next race.”

Conditions were not ideal with strong winds and choppy water.

Grimes was followed by Indiana University’s Mariah Denigan (2:17:50) and France’s Caroline Jouisse (2:18:34). The top six Americans were:

Grimes (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada), 2:16:40.
Mariah Denigan (Walton, Ky./Indiana University), 2:17:50.
Summer Smith (Agawam, Mass./Bluefish Swim Club), 2:21:07.
Anna Auld (West Palm Beach, Fla./University of Florida), 2:21:50.
Kensey McMahon (Jacksonville, Fla./University of Alabama), 2:22:00.
Brooke Travis (Newark, Del./NC State), 2:25:51.

France’s Axel Reymond (2:02:49) edged U.S. National Team member and University of Florida junior Brennan Gravley (2:02:53) for the top spot. Dylan Gravley, Brennan’s younger brother, finished third (2:03:13), a career-best 10K finish.

“It’s one of my favorite parts of being a USA Swimming athlete,” Brennan said when asked about qualifying for the U.S. Open Water National Team. “I feel like we have a lot of privileges, especially as open water swimmers. It was a fun venue and it was fun to come out here even with intense conditions.”

Added his brother, “I was trying to maintain my position and keep up with Brennan,” Dylan Gravley said. “I’m taking baby steps, it is another year and I was a few places upwards of where I was last year.”

The top-6 American male finishers were:
Brennan Gravley (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada/University of Florida), 2:02:53.
Dylan Gravley (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada/Arizona State University), 2:03:13.
Joey Tepper (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./University of Tennessee), 2:03:39.
Michael Brinegar (Columbus, Ind./Mission Viejo Nadadores/Indiana University), 2:05:44.
Simon Lamar (Sonora, Calif./Harvard University), 2:08:27.
David Heron (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo Nadadores), 2:10:20.

French swimmer Aurelie Muller won the senior 5K title ahead of Joiusse and U.S. pool Olympian Bella Sims of Sandpipers of Nevada, third and top American finisher.

Claire Weinstein of Sandpipers of Nevada won the girls 5K junior national title in 1:06:08.

Samuel Marsteiner of New Wave Swim Team won the boys 5K junior national title in 1:02:40.

The top two finishers qualified for the U.S. roster for the Sept. 1-4 FINA World Junior Open Water Championships Beau Vallon, Seychelles.

On Sunday, 16-year-old Ilya Kharun won the Junior National 7.5K race and led a 1-2 finish for the Sandpipers of Nevada Teammate Luke Ellis, 14, was second.

Please note, the full results have not been posted on usaswimming.org. South Florida Aquatic Club’s Isabelle Wilson, 14, competed in the girls 7.5K race and finished but her time has not been posted as of Sunday night.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Schleicher, Wilson Among Nation’s Best At U.S. Open Water National And Junior Championships

By Sharon Robb
FORT MYERS BEACH, March 31, 2022–South Florida Aquatic Club’s Mallory Schleicher and Isabelle (Izzy) Wilson will compete this weekend in the U.S. Open Water National & Junior Championships.

The nation’s top open water swimmers will compete for several roster spots at various meets.

The competition begins Friday and runs through Sunday at Lynn Hall Beach Park.

According to the psych sheet, Schleicher, 17, a University of Florida commit, will compete in the 5K National Championship and Wilson, 14, will swim the 7.5K Junior National Championships.

Other local swimmers entered are University of Florida’s Anna Auld, 17, (10K/5K); Blair Stoneburg, 16, (10K/5K) of Treasure Coast Aquatics; Brynn Stoneburg, 15, of Treasure Coast Aquatics (7.5K Junior).

Among top seeds are 2020 Olympians Erica Sullivan, Michael Brinegar and Katie Grimes. Joining them are Open Water National Team members Mariah Denigan, Leah DeGeorge and brothers Dylan and Brennan Gravley.

Open Water champion David Heron heads the field. In last year’s event, he finished first in both the 5K and 10K. It was the first time in nine Open Water National Championships appearances where he won both events.

The top finishers will make the upcoming U.S. Open Water National Team and U.S. Open Water National Junior Team, 2022 FINA Open Water World Championships U.S. team and 2022 FINA World Junior Open Water Championships U.S. teams.

The 2022 U.S. Open Water National Team, which will be active May 1-October 31, 2022, will be based on the top six male and top six female finishers in the 10K event at the 2022 Open Water National Championships held at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Selection to the 2022-23 U.S. Open Water National Team, which will be active November 1, 2022-May 1, 2023, will be decided based on a results-based points system across two domestic and four international open water competitions. At the conclusion of these competitions, the top six male and top six female swimmers with the most points will be named to the 2022-23 U.S. Open Water National Team.

Selection to the U.S. roster for the 2022 FINA Open Water World Championships, which takes place June 26-30 in Budapest, Hungary, will follow a similar points-based system. Points will be distributed to top finishers from the 2022 Open Water National Championships 5K and 10K events, as well as top finishers in the events at the 2022 FINA Marathon Swim World Series in Portugal, which takes place May 28-29, 2022. Following the results of the two competitions, the six male and six female swimmers with the most points will represent the U.S. at the 2022 FINA Open Water World Championships.

The U.S. Open Water National Junior Team will be comprised of the top two male and top two female finishers in the 10K at the Open Water National Championships, the top finishing male and female from a 10K race to be held in October, the top finishers from the junior 7.5K event at the Open Water Junior National Championships and any male or female individual medalist at the 2022 FINA Open Water World Junior Championships.

Selection for the 2022 FINA World Junior Open Water Championships, which will take place September 1-4 in Beau Vallon, Seychelles, will be based off the following age-group finishers from the 2022 Open Water National Junior Championships:
Top two male, top two female finishers from the 5K Junior Nationals (14-15 Age Group).
Top two male, top two female finishers from the 7.5K Junior Nationals (16-17 Age Group).
Top two male, top two female finishers from the 10K Nationals (18-19 Eligible Athletes).

All additional information will be updated to the competition’s event page. The action is being streamed each morning on http://www.usaswimming.org/watch.

RACE START TIMES (There has been a change to the National 5K start time)

10K National Championships (Open + 19&U)
    Friday, April 1, 2022-  Women’s Race 8:00 am - Men’s Race 10:30 am 
5K Junior National Championships (15-U Age Group) 
    Saturday, April 2, 2022 Men’s Race 8:00 am -  Women’s Race 8:05 am  
5K National Championships (Open) ** Please Note this is different than what is posted in the meet information
    Sunday, April 3, 2022 Men’s Race 8:00am - Women’s Race 8:05am  
7.5K Junior National Championships (16-17 Age Group)
    Sunday, April 3, 2022 Men’s Race 10:00am - Women’s Race 10:05am

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com