Gemmell Takes Second Career 10k National Championship at Lake Castaic

In a wild men’s 10 kilometer race on Friday afternoon at the 2014 U.S. Open Water National Championships in Lake Castaic, California, there was little drama for the win (though plenty for the remaining spots on the Pan Pacs team). Andrew Gemmell took his second-career U.S. National Championship in the 10k and stamped his ticket to the Pan Pac Championships with a 1:50:45.927.

He will be joined on the Gold Coast by Jordan Willimovsky, Alex Meyer, and Sean Ryan: the top four finishers.

By the final touch, Gemmell and Willimovsky (1:50:49.364) pulled well away from the rest of the field, with over 40 seconds of margin on Meyer and Ryan. Meyer and Ryan, however, finished in a precise tie for 3rd in 1:51:30.284 – to the thousandth of a second.

Club Wolverine swimmer Ryan Feeley, officially representing his hometown Badger Swim Club, pushed the pace early in the men’s 10km race. In fact, in any pool race, his margin would have been a runaway. The open water, however, is longer than any pool race and strategy is crucial. While he pushed the pace, Willimovsky and Gemmell cruised and rode the wake of their competitors, and so they were able to fight through a strong headwind in the final stretch to open up a 40 meter lead, and at that point they were jockeying for titles, because the two had secured their spots for Pan Pacs.

Meyer and Ryan came out ahead of a group that included two other swimmers: David Heron and Chip Peterson, who were another second back. They will join the above two on the Open Water National Team.

Arthur Frayler was 7th in 1:51:58, and Feeley wound up 8th in 1:52:25.

This meet was also the selection for the Jr. Pan Pacs, which pending confirmation will go to 17-year old Brendan Casey (1:53:42 – 14th overall), 15-year old Chris Yeager (1:54:47 – 16th overall), and 17-year old Logan Houck (1:55:42 – 20th overall).

Note that Blake Mangienello, 18, finished higher than the above three, but will age up before Jr. Pan Pacs.

Full results were not posted online as of publishing, but pictures of the results, thanks to our reporter Anne Lepesant who was at the race, are below (click to enlarge).