Alex Kostich, Dawn Heckman Win Main Event at Pacific Open Water Challenge

By Steven Munatones, Swimming World open water correspondent

LONG BEACH, California, August 24. FORMER Pan American Games double gold medalist Alex Kostich and former University of Florida All-American Dawn Heckman easily won the men's and women's main event at the Pacific Open Water Challenge in Long Beach, Calif.

Held in a rowing basin under blue skies and almost no winds, the two experienced open water swimmers were the class of the 5-kilometer race.

"I was sick this week and came here to just cheer Dawn on. We train together, but I wasn't sure I was going to swim this morning," said Kostich. "I ended up entering the race when I arrived this morning and wanted to sprint the first 800 meters to see how my body would react."

His body seemed to react well to the 68˚F water. Kostich took off from the start at a quick 82 strokes per minute pace and quickly separated himself from his competitors in the three-loop course.

"Last week at the 3-mile Naples [Long Beach] race, I didn't go out strong and Dawn was on my heels the whole way," Kostich said. "I didn't want that to happen again."

By the second loop, Kostich had continued to build to an 84-spm pace and a comfortable lead.

"I felt great," Kostich said. "It was a perfect temperature and I like swimming in open water in a rowing basin like this. You can put your head down and go fast without all the waves and currents like in the ocean."

Not leaving anything to chance, Kostich picked his pace up to an 86-spm pace on the last loop to finish first in 1 hour and 10 seconds. Heckman finished in 1 hour 1 minute 57 seconds just a hand touch behind Andy Bray who finished second behind Kostich. Bray, who once represented the U.S. at the 2003 World Swimming Championships in the 25K, had battled the entire 3.1 miles with Heckman with the two occasionally switching drafting positions or swimming side-by-side.

Unlike most open water races on the West Coast, the venue was unusual because it was held a rowing basin and easily within view of the spectators up and down the course. The flat water and straightaway course was ideal for both beginner and experienced open water swimmers. The newcomers felt comfortable going straight up and down while the experienced swimmers were able to throw in surges and draft strategically in groups.

Simon Millar, a local Masters swimmer who finished ninth overall, summed up the experience of many. "It was a fun race. The water was comfortable and I was in a group of four, drafting and racing the entire time."

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