“This is the only (open water) race I do in the U.S. every year,” said Peterson, the 2005 10K open world champion and 5K silver medalist. “It’s one of my favorite races.” Peterson has enjoyed tremendous success at Open Water Nationals over the last few years. He’s competed in the meet for four years now and has four national titles to show for it – two in the 5K (2006 and 2007) and two in the 10K (2005 and 2006). He will be going for his third straight win in the 10K race on Saturday. “The cuts (to qualify for this meet) were a little harder this year, so in terms of competition, it’s a completely different race from couple of years ago,” Peterson said. “It’s definitely faster.”
While Peterson was pleased with his win in the 5K, he said his main focus for the week was on Saturday’s 10K race, which serves as a qualifier for the U.S. Open Water Olympic Selection Meet/World Championship Trials. The top 15 finishers in the men’s and women’s 10K Saturday will qualify for the Open Water Olympic Selection Meet/World Championships Trials, which will be held Oct. 20-21 in Fort Myers. “(The 5K) was an opportunity to come out here, see the course and get a feel for the competition,” Peterson said. “It will be a different race on Saturday, but a lot of the same people will be in it. It’s good way to gauge where I’m at right now.”
Sutton agreed. This year marks the second year she has competed at Open Water Nationals. Last year, she won the 10K and finished second in the 5K. She then went on with Peterson last August to win gold in the 10K at the 2006 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia. She recently returned from Melbourne, Australia, where she represented the U.S. in the FINA Open Water World Championships. “Worlds was really intense,” Sutton said. “But here, I took the lead at the beginning and had a good clear race. I’m confident now that I’ve got that swim under my belt and got to see the course first hand. “It’s very exciting. It’s always a big deal to win a national title. Last year, I won the 10K, and this year I won the 5. It’s awesome.”
Finishing second in the men’s race was Fran Crippen of Mission Viejo Nadadores in 53:23.48, followed by Noa Sakamoto (unattached) in 53:35.55. On the women’s side Micha Burden of Mission Viejo was second in 59.06.03, while Christine Jennings of Minnesota Aquatics was third in 59:38.89.
The USA Swimming Open Water National Championships continues Saturday with men’s and women’s 10K race, and concludes Monday with the men’s and women’s 25K.
USA Swimming Open Water National Championships - 5K Medalists
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Men – 1. Chip Peterson, North Carolina Aquatic Club, 52.39.20; 2. Fran Crippen, Mission Viejo Nadadores, 53.23.48; 3. Noa Sakamoto, unattached, 53.35.55; 4. Jan Wolfgarten, Gator Swim Club, 52:38.41; 5. Scott Kaufmann, Reno Aquatic Club, 54:08.57; 6. Steffan Troxel, Indiana University, 54:00.60; 7. Andrew Gremmell, Delaware Swim Team, 54:04.08; 8. Charlie Rimkus, Mission Viejo Nadadores, 54:11.29.
- Women – 1. Chloe Sutton, California Capital Aquatics, 58:23.45; 2. Micha Burden, Mission Viejo Nadadores, 59:06.03; 3. Christine Jennings, Minnesota Aquatics, 59:38.89; 4. Whitney Sprague, North Carolina Aquatic Club, 59:40.93; 5. Kelly Ann Baird, Winston-Salem YMCA, 59:48.57; 6. Katelyn Martin, Magnus Aquatic Group, 59:50.67; 7. Liz Nelson, The Woodlands Swim Team, 1:00:02.42; 8. Meghan Leddy, Eastern Express Swim Team, 1:00:24.32.
About USA Swimming: As the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States, USA Swimming formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. USA Swimming has more than 300,000 members nationwide and sanctions more than 7,000 events each year. For more information, visit USA Swimming on-line.
