USA Open Water Championships: Mariah Denigan Holds off Hansen, Twichell for 10K Title
The 2026 USA Swimming Open Water Championships kicked off with the women’s 10K national championship on Thursday, April 2, in Sarasota, Florida.
Ohio State’s Mariah Denigan was able to hold off the field to win the race in 2 hours, 3 minutes and 54 seconds.
There were three other swimmers who finished within 13 seconds of the winner in the field of 35 finishers.
Saint Petersburg Aquatics’ Brinkleigh Hansen was just eight seconds behind, taking second place with a swim of 2:04:02.
Third place in the open water championships went to Olympic veteran Ashley Twichell, swimming for the TAC Titans, who crossed the finish line in 2:04:04, 10 seconds behind Denigan.
Just three seconds behind Twichell was her TAC Titan and Team USA teammate Becca Mann, who finished in 2:04:07 for fourth place.
Fifth place went to Long Island Aquatic Club’s Alex Siegal, who crossed the finish line in 2:04:24.
Another TAC Titans swimmer followed as Brooke Travis took sixth in 2:05:32.
The top six women in the 10K will receive invitations to join the American team for World Cup events on April 24 in Ibiza, Spain, and on May 1 in Golfo Aranci, Italy. The six American representatives will accumulate points based on their finishes at all three qualifying competitions, and then four will receive berths to race at Pan Pacs.
Canada’s Emma Finlin (2:05:34) and Delphine Piatera-Mercier (2:07:41) took seventh and 10th, respectively, competing at the U.S. Open Water Championships.
Gold Medal Swim Club’s Paige Downey finished eighth in 2:05.49 and ninth place went to Ohio State’s Mila Nikaronov, who crossed the finish line in 2:07.19.
More open water championships info here.