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Katie Grimes Wins National 10km Title To Book Worlds Spot

2023 U.S. Open Water National Championships

Katie Grimes put the hammer down on the final lap of the women’s 10km on Friday morning at U.S. Open Water Nationals, claiming victory and a spot at the 2023 World Championships.

After several different athletes took turns at the front of the race throughout, Grimes’ Sandpipers of Nevada teammate Claire Weinstein held the lead early on during the last of five laps of the race, with a group containing Mariah DeniganKensey McMahonAshley Twichell, Maria De Valdez and Grimes close behind.

Grimes moved to the front of the pack and managed to pull away, ultimately winning by 15 seconds to defend her national title and earn a spot at the World Championships in a time of 1:58:08.

After Weinstein and Denigan had a photo finish in the race for second, the nod ultimately went to Denigan, who is listed with a time of 1:58:23, one second clear of Weinstein.

Twichell, a 33-year-old veteran and Tokyo Olympian in open water, placed fourth in 1:58:25, while De Valdez (1:59:06) was fifth and McMahon sixth (1:59:09).

Top 8 Finishers

  1. Katie Grimes (Sandpipers of Nevada), 1:58:08
  2. Mariah Denigan (ISC), 1:58:23
  3. Claire Weinstein (Sandpipers of Nevada), 1:58:24
  4. Ashley Twichell (TAC Titans), 1:58:25
  5. Maria de Valdes (Spain), 1:59:06
  6. Kensey McMahon (Univ of Alabama Swim Club), 1:59:09
  7. Angela Martinez (Spain), 2:00.28
  8. Leah Degeorge (University of Florida), 2:00:31

Grimes’ performance is all the more impressive given she’s less than a week removed from producing a personal best time of 4:31.81 in the 400 IM, a performance that ranks her #2 in the world this year and 15th all-time.

The winner of both the men’s and women’s 10km events automatically earn a spot on the U.S. team at Worlds this summer, with the opportunity to race both the 5km and 10km in Fukuoka.

You can find the men’s recap here.

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Vinay
1 year ago

She has much better chance of winning open water gold than anyone from australia

Abcdefg
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

Curious as to what compels a person to write a comment like this. How does this contribute to constructive dialogue? Does this make you feel good to type, knowing it’s disrespectful?

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Abcdefg
1 year ago

It’s flame-bait.

Vinay
Reply to  Abcdefg
1 year ago

It’s a fact truth always hurts

Hank
1 year ago

Looks like the days of pure open water swimmers are numbered.

Last edited 1 year ago by Hank
Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Hank
1 year ago

Ashley Twichell placed fourth (4th) in the women’s 1500 meter freestyle at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.

Steve Nolan
1 year ago

comment image

That’s too far!! You must focus on the pool alone!!

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Working on that stamina for the pool events.

Hank
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Supposed to leave these open water events to washed up pool swimmers lol.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Hank
1 year ago

I was joking.

Yozhik
1 year ago

Who do you think was the most promising young swimmer in women long distance events in the beginning of Olympic 2012 year. If you think that was Katie Ledecky you are well off. It was Becca Mann. Not many remember her now, she moved to the open water competition.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Yozhik
1 year ago

What’s your point?

16 year old Katie Grimes won the silver medal in the women’s 1500 meter freestyle at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships.

https://www.worldaquatics.com/swimming/rankings?gender=F&distance=1500&stroke=FREESTYLE&poolConfiguration=LCM&year=all&startDate=&endDate=&timesMode=ALL_TIMES&regionId=all&countryId=

Yozhik
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

As LT Colombo answers such questions:”Point? Oh, no. No point”.
I’m just wondering why Ledecky never competed at OW. She even ignored SCM meets until recently. Maybe she knew something about tuning the technique in particular style of swimming. It may happen that versatility isn’t that good thing when you want to swim at the edge of possible. Maybe you indeed can’t sit in two chairs with one butt.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Yozhik
1 year ago

If you watched the last day of the 2022 Phillips 66 National Championships, you would know the answer to question.

JoeB
Reply to  Yozhik
1 year ago

Yozhik: ”. . . Maybe you indeed can’t sit in two chairs with one butt.”

Southwest Airlines: ”Oh, yes you can.”

MarkB
Reply to  Yozhik
1 year ago

I think a lot of people remember Becca Mann.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  MarkB
1 year ago

I think a lot people remember Haley Anderson and Ashley Twichell.

Seth
1 year ago

The Olympics needs to have more than 1 open water event. Maybe add the 5k and a mile.

Admin
Reply to  Seth
1 year ago

Okay I’m willing to hear you out, but have one big question:

Why?

ITSYABOI
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Because it’s a totally different sport that pool swimming and 10k and 5k are like the difference between a sprint and a distance event for open water swimmers

Winter Apple
Reply to  ITSYABOI
1 year ago

That’s not true at all. A 50 and a 1500 are completely different energy zones and training. A 5k and 10K are the same one is just who can do it even longer.

Observing
Reply to  Winter Apple
1 year ago

this guy gets it, although honestly they aren’t even that different. If you train as a distance swimmer, they’ll both pretty much be equal. Just one long threshold swim, really makes you question the amount of training done for a mile when the same amount is done for 10k, really feels like pool distance training needs to be re-thought

Eli
1 year ago

Dumb question: How is the junior team selected?

MY MOM!
1 year ago

Now that Grimes has qualified she can do the 5K as an individual medley on Sunday.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  MY MOM!
1 year ago

5k breaststroke, Katie Grimes needs the work to improve the W 400 IM.

Rebecca Soni approves this message.

DMSWIM
1 year ago

Why is this selection process so complicated? Shouldn’t the winner in the 10k swim the 10k at Worlds and the winner of the 5k swim the 5k? There is actually a pretty big difference between being good at the 5k and the 10k, so the winner of the 10k may not be in the best position to win the 5k.

Admin
Reply to  DMSWIM
1 year ago

It’s the same reason why the top 2 in the 50s don’t go to Worlds: only the 10k is in the Olympics, only the Olympics pays the bills, so everything is the Olympics.

Martinfamily
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

I thought two American swimmers went in more than one of the 50’s. I’m thinking in particular the men’s 50 back took Armstrong and Ress. No?

Admin
Reply to  Martinfamily
1 year ago

They entered more than one.

But only one qualified via winning the 50 at Trials (Armstrong).

Ress made the team as a member of the 400 free relay by placing 6th at Trials in the 100 free.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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