OPEN WATER SWIMMERS TO COMPETE AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FORT MYERS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The top open water swimmers in the U.S. will compete April 27 and 29 in Fort Myers, Fla., at the 2012 USA Swimming Open Water National Championships. The competition includes both a 10K and 5K race, with the 10K race serving as the Trials for the 2012-13 USA Swimming National Open Water Team and National Junior Open Water Team.

The top two female finishers in the 10K race will be selected to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Qualifier Event in Setubal, Portugal on June 8. The male spot for the 10K on Team USA for the 2012 Summer Games has already been secured by competitor Alex Meyer (Ithaca, N.Y.).

Last year’s winners of the 10K Open Water National Championships Eva Fabian (Keene, N.H.) and Alex Meyer will be back in the water to defend their titles, along with silver medalist Christine Jennings (Longmont, Colo.), and bronze medalists Ashley Twichell (Fayetteville, N.Y.) and Andrew Gemmell (Wilmington, Del.).

The field in Fort Myers will also include Open Water National Team members, Emily Brunemann (Crescent Springs, Ky.), Arthur Frayler (Ambler, Pa.), Rachel Zilinskas (Blue Bell, Pa.), Claire Thompson (Largo, Fla.), Haley Anderson (Granite Bay, Calif.) and 2011 World University Games Team USA member Connor Signorin (East Windsor, N.J.).

The 10K race will take place on Friday, April 27 with starts of 8:00 a.m. for the women and 11:00 a.m. for the men. The 5K competition will be on Sunday, April 29 at 9:00 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. for the men and women, respectively. All start times are Eastern Standard Times and are subject to change due to the number of entries or local conditions.

The 2012 10K Open Water National Championships will also serve as the Trials for the USA Swimming National Open Water Team and National Junior Open Water Team. For complete selection criteria, please refer to the National Team section of the USA Swimming website.