Katie Grimes Headlines U.S. Open Water Nationals In Sarasota

2023 U.S. Open Water National Championships

• April 21-23, 2023
• Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Florida
• Open Water
• Meet Central
• World Championship Selection Procedure
• Start List
• Live Stream

The 2023 U.S. Open Water National Championships are set to kick off on Friday morning from Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, with qualifying spots at the 2023 World Championships up for grabs.

The event will feature the men’s and women’s 10km events on Friday, followed by the junior 5km (15 and under) on Saturday, and then things will wrap up on Sunday with the men’s and women’s national 5km in addition to the junior 7.5km (16-17)

EVENT SCHEDULE

Times in ET

Friday, April 21

• 8:00 am – Women’s 10km
• 10:30 am – Men’s 10km

Saturday, April 22

• 8:00 am – Boys’ 15 & under 5km
• 8:05 am – Girls’ 15 & under 5km

Sunday, April 23

• 7:30 am – Men’s 5km
• 7:35 am – Women’s 5km
• 10:00 am – Boys’ 16-17 7.5km
• 10:05 am – Girls’ 16-17 7.5km

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING PROCEDURE

The winners of the men’s and women’s 10km will earn a spot on the World Championship team in both the 5km and 10km events.

The second slot at the World Championships will go to the top American finisher at the Italian leg of the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup, which takes place May 21-22 in Golfo Aranci, Sardinia.

If either athlete opts out of the 5km at Worlds, the remaining vacancy will go to the second-highest finisher at the Open Water World Cup.

Only in the event of the Open Water World Cup event getting canceled and USA Swimming not being able to find a replacement race will the runner-up at Open Water Nationals earn a World Championship spot.

• Full Selection Criteria

GRIMES HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN’S FIELD

Katie Grimes, the 2022 World Championship silver medalist in the women’s 1500 free and 400 IM, headlines the women’s field in Sarasota, coming in with an impressive open water resume.

The 17-year-old won gold last year at the World Junior Open Water Championships in both the girls’ 7.5km and the team event, and placed fifth in the women’s 10km at the 2022 World Championships.

Mariah Denigan, who finished 15th in the 10km last year at Worlds, will also be in the field this weekend, as will fellow 2022 Open Water World Championship team members Anna Auld and newly-crowned NCAA champion Kensey McMahon.

Last year, Grimes won the 10km national title by more than a minute, with Denigan finishing as the runner-up.

Another notable name on the entry list is 33-year-old veteran Ashley Twichell, who finished seventh in the 10km at the Tokyo Olympics and is a five-time World Championship medalist in open water, including winning 2017 gold in the 5km.

Grimes’ Sandpipers of Nevada teammate Claire Weinstein is also entered to swim both the 5k and 10k.

GRAVLEY BROTHERS AMONG TOP MEN’S CONTENDERS

Brothers Brennan and Dylan Gravley placed second and third in the men’s 10km last year (behind Frenchman Axel Reymond), making them the two U.S. representatives at the World Championships in the event.

After Brennan and Dylan finished 12th and 13th, respectively, last year in Budapest, they come in as two of the pre-race favorites in the 10km this week.

Other names to watch out for include Michael Brinegar, a 2021 U.S. Olympian in the pool who won bronze for the Americans team in the mixed open water team event at the 2019 World Championships, and David Heron, who has represented the U.S. multiple times at Worlds in open water.

Simon Lamar and Joey Tepper joined the Gravley brothers at Worlds last year, while Canadian Ilya Kharun is also on the entry list after finishing sixth in the Canadian event last weekend.

See the full entry list here.

LIVE STREAMS

Each race will be streamed live on USA Swimming’s YouTube channel here.

NATIONAL 10KM (MEN’S & WOMEN’S)

JUNIOR NATIONAL 5KM

NATIONAL 5KM

JUNIOR NATIONAL 7.5KM