Sutton, Dyatchine Claim RCP Tiburon Mile Titles

SAN FRANCISCO, California, October 2. ON a Sunday morning featuring lower 60-degree waters, Chloe Sutton and Vladimir Dyatchine picked up wins at the RCP Tiburon Mile.

Sutton, a 14-year-old open water rookie currently hailing from Citrus Heights, Calif., won her third race out of her last four tries. After claiming the 10k national title in June and winning at the same distance at Pan Pacifics, came into this year’s competition as a decided underdog to defending champion Sara McLarty. Sutton, however, answered the call with a 21:49 to finish more than a minute ahead of McLarty.

“I am really happy to have done so well during the race,” Sutton said. “I just went with a big group of people and didn’t know I had won the women’s race. I finished with the lead group of men, and I am proud of that. It worked out perfectly. I basically just caught a wave of all guys and they brought me to the finish.”

Dyatchine, on the other hand, battled through a much more difficult field as he barely beat Swimming World Magazine’s 2005 Open Water Male Co-Swimmer of the Year Thomas Lurz. The two banged into each other during the frantic dash to the finish line, with Dyatchine winning in 21:32. Lurz clocked in at 21:35, while two-time Olympic silver medalist Erik Vendt nearly overtook the duo with a 21:38.

Dyatchine used this year’s edition to erase a bad taste in his mouth after finishing outside of medal contention in 2004. That year, Dyatchine placed fourth in 20:38, after Evgeni Bezroutchen narrowly crossed the finish line ahead of him.

Be sure to be on the lookout for more RCP Tiburon Mile coverage as well as a feature on Chloe Sutton in Swimming World Magazine’s open water issue coming in November.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use