Open Water Roundup: Atlantic City Marathon and US Open Water Champs Highlight the Weekend

August 20. IT was a busy weekend on the open water circuit, with major competitions being held in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Clark, Majcen Take Atlantic City 37 K

SLOVENIA'S Igor Majcen and Australia's Shelley Clark battled tides, 70-degree water, jelly fish and exhaustion before emerging victorious at the 37K "Around the Island" Atlantic City Marathon on Saturday. They each weon $4,500.

Majcen negotiated the 37K swim in 7 hours 18 minutes 33.55 seconds, about five-and-a-half minutes ahead of the USA's John Kenny(7:23:43.41). Argentina's Rafael Perez was third some 41+ minutes later in 8:04:50.77, earning $1,500.

Australia's Shelley Clark, 21, took the women's race in 8:12:55.44. Clark, who had won the 28K Long Island-to-Bridgeport swim across the Long Island Sound the previous weekend, injuring her shoulder in the process, had the fourth fastest time overall.

Second place went to Masters swimmer Gail Rice, 44, who was just over 20 minutes behind Clark in 8:33:03.01. The $2500 she collected makes her one of the highest paid Masters swimmers in the US. Japan's
Yuko Matsuzaki took third in 9:08:42.20.

In the relay competition, Brigantine Beach Patrol won in 8:14:49. Garden State Masters was second in 8:46:25 followed by Camden County in 9:20.

The USA Disabled Team finished in 9:20:22.89.

Keller, DeMarco Take US Open Water 5K

CONDITIONS were near-perfect in Fort Lauderdale the following day, with the seas calm and the water a bath-like 85-degrees. Kalyn Keller, kid sister of 400 meter American record-holder, Klete Keller, and Dan DeMarco took advantage of the ideal conditions to win the gold at the USA Swimming 5K Open Water National Championships.

Keller, who last year won the 5K at the inaugural FINA World Open Water Championships in Hawaii and also took the 800 meter crown at Summer Nationals in Clovis, California, led most of the way, fending off a last-minute challenge in the final 500 meters.

It was a happy ending to a disappointing Nationals for the 17 year-old Keller, who represents Sun Devil Aquatics. Floridian Sara McLarty, 19, the niece of Masters great June Krauser, was second.

Swimming in his first open water event, DeMarco, 22, swimming for Long Island Aquatics, led from the start and was never pressed.

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