The third and final day of the 2018 Open Water Nationals took place a little bit earlier than usual as race times were bumped up due to Arizona’s high temperatures that were expected to reach well above 100 degrees.
For much of the 5K race, Taylor Abbott of Tennessee Aquatics led the field but slipped back coming into the third and final lap. From there David Heron of Tennessee Aquatics took over and turned up the heat to hold off charging swims from Canada’s Eric Hedlin and Sandpipers of Nevada’s Brennan Graveley.
Heron won the National Championship title with a time of 54:29.921, while Hedlin claimed a close second with a time of 54:30.944.
Graveley grabbed third overall with a time of 54:32.866, also earning him the title of Junior National Champion.
James Brinegar of the Mission Viejo Nadadores picked up fourth with a time of 54:40.167, followed by TC Smith’s 54:40.975.
The Canadian duo of Hau-Li Fan (54:49.843) and Jon McKay (54:50.585) were sixth and seventh respectively, while Abbott finished eighth with a 54:50.585.
Cmon my guy it’s Gravley.