Friday, June 20, 2008

How Fast are America's Open Water Swimmers?


The crème de la crème of American open water swimming will switch from turn buoys and pack swimming to starting blocks and flip turns as they try to qualify for the USA Olympic (pool) Swimming Team.

Several open water swimmers who have represented USA Swimming in recent international competitions will swim in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.

Going into the Olympic Trials, Chloe Sutton of Mission Viejo, who has already qualified for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, is seeded sixth in the 400 freestyle with an entry time of 4:10.66. Chloe will also swim the 200 freestyle (2:03.23) and 800 freestyle (8:39.76).

Mark Warkentin of Santa Barbara, who will join Chloe as America’s sole open water swimmers in Beijing, has a much lighter schedule. He will swim the 400 freestyle (3:54.92)

In contrast, Fran Crippen of Mission Viejo, the 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist in the 10K, will be quite busy. He is entered in the 200 butterfly (2:01.28), 200 freestyle (1:52.29), 400 freestyle (3:51.07), 400 individual medley (4:25.11) and 1500 freestyle (15:18.51).

Chad La Tourette, also of Mission Viejo, who just got out-touched for a bronze in the 5K at the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships, is entered in the 400 freestyle (3:52.35) and is seeded fourth in the 1500 freestyle (15:00.26).

2005 world 10K champion Chip Peterson of North Carolina, who just barely missed qualifying for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, is entered in the 200 freestyle (1:51.96), 400 individual medley (4:29.90), 400 freestyle (3:52.74) and 1500 freestyle (15:12.33) where he is seeded sixth.

Leah Gingrich of WSY Swimming, who represented the U.S. in the 5K at the 2007 World Swimming Championships, will swim the 200 freestyle (2:01.16), 200 butterfly (2:13.35), 400 freestyle (11th in 4:11.77) and 800 freestyle (8:36.97).

Christine Jennings of Minnesota Aquatics, pictured above at the 5K in the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships, is entered in the 400 freestyle (4:15.77) and 800 freestyle (8:49.57).

Micha Burden of Mission Viejo, who represented the U.S. in the 10K and 25K events at the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships, will swim the 200 freestyle (2:02.09), 400 freestyle (4:17.10) and 800 freestyle (8:49.46).

Josef Kinderwater of WSY Swimming, who swam in the 5K at the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships, will swim the 1500 freestyle (15:31.96).

We’ll be looking for them on the NBC and USA network broadcasts of the Olympic Trials from June 29th to July 6th.

Photo by Javier Blazquez.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

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