Open Water Nationals To Act As U.S. Qualifier For World Juniors

2018 U.S. OPEN WATER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Friday, May 4 – Sunday, May 6
• Town Lake, Tempe, Arizona
• Meet Central
• Meet Info
• Start Lists
• Course Map
• Open Water World Junior Selection

Along with this weekend’s Open Water Nationals acting as the qualifying competition for this summer’s Pan Pacific Championships, it will also act as the qualifier for the 2018 FINA Open Water World Junior Championships, scheduled to take place September 6-8 in Eilat, Israel.

At this weekend’s Nationals there will be athletes selected for World Juniors in the Junior National 5K, the Junior National 7.5K, and the National 10K. The Junior 5K will consist of 15 and under athletes, while the 7.5K is for athletes in the 16-17 age-group. For World Championship qualification, the 5K qualifiers must be 14-15, 7.5Kers must be 16-17, and the 10K qualifiers 18-19 (as of December 31, 2018).

This is a change up from last year, when there was no 7.5K and the athletes in the Junior National 5K were only required to be 16 & under on race day.

Quite simply, the top two available swimmers in each distance at the National Championships will earn a spot on the World Junior roster. Check out the full qualifying procedure from USA Swimming here.

The schedule of events for the weekend are as follows:

• Friday: Men’s and Women’s National 10K
• Saturday: Boys and Girls Junior National 5K (15 & under)
• Sunday: Men’s and Women’s National 5K
• Sunday: Boys and Girls Junior National 7.5K (16-17)

Last year’s junior national 5K winner for the girls Erica Sullivan, who swims for the Sandpipers of Nevada, will be back in action this weekend, competing in both the national 5 and 10K. Noah Brune of Mission Viejo won the junior national 5K last year for the boys and will compete in the 7.5K this weekend.