Dylan Gravley Caps Open Water Nationals with 5K Men’s Title
Dylan Gravley finished up the 2024 Open Water Nationals by winning the men’s 5-kilometer swim in Sarasota, Fla., Sunday.
Gravely, the Las Vegas native and Sandpipers of Nevada alum competing for Sun Devil Swimming, clocked in at 54 minutes, 40 seconds. He was 14 seconds clear of Chip Wheelie Shoyat of Northern Kentucky Clippers.
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The win comes in the first national championships since Gravley’s brother, Brennan Gravley, announced his retirement in January.
“The race was good,” Dylan Gravley told USA Swimming. “Some guys were pushing the pace and taking charge, and I like to see that. I was behind a couple of times and had to really charge and make up some ground, which wasn’t part of the plan. I got it done, finished first, and filled the shoes that my brother left for me. I’m happy about that and it was a wonderful day for open water racing.”
Trey Dickey of Texas A&M, who had finished just off the podium in fourth in the 10K, finished third in the shorter sprint.
The women’s 5K went to Japanese swimmer Ichika Kajimoto. She was the only finisher among the top seven in the 10K – she had been fourth – to also contest the sprint. She clocked in at 59:05. Great Britain’s Ella Dyson was second in 59:19.
Only 15 swimmers were entered in the race, 11 of them Americans. The top home-country finisher was Claire Stuhlmacher. The NOVA of Virginia swimmer went 59:43. She had been 10th in the 10K.
Daisy Collins won a finishing sprint to take the girls’ junior 7.5K in 1:35.31. The North Carolina Aquatics swimmers was nine seconds up on Samantha Anderson.
“It was really good,” Collins said. “Around the third lap, I got dizzy but just told myself I’ve done this before so I can do it again. I put my head down and went for it.”
Colin Jacobs at another local winner, going 1:28.23 to win the boys’ junior 7.5K. Swimming for Sarasota Sharks, he bested Sarasota Tsunami swimmer Jackson Irwin by five seconds.
“I’m super happy with that,” Jacobs said. “Definitely not what I was expecting, but it’s amazing that I was able to get first. The last turn, I told myself that I might as well go for it here and see what happens. I am just really happy that I was able to get the win.”