For the first time in conference history, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) will hold a one-day Open Water Swimming Championship to be contested on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California.
The collegiate championship meet will consist of four events, beginning at 9 a.m. with the Men’s 5-
Kilometer race. The Women’s 5K will follow at 10:30 a.m. The collegiate events resume in the afternoon with the men’s and women’s 2,000-meter relay events at 1:45 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., respectively.
The relays will consist of four competitors per team, each swimming 500 meters.
Team scoring in the collegiate events will be made up of results achieved in both the 5K and relay events.
The top-three individuals and top relay team from each institution will contribute to their team score.
Additionally, the top-three collegiate swimmers in the men’s and women’s 5K races will automatically
qualify for the 5K USA Swimming Open Water National Championship as well as the CSCAA National
Championship in December.
In between the collegiate 5K and relay events, a Masters 5K and 1K race for adults 18 and over will take place at noon and 12:05 p.m., respectively. The MPSF welcomes all masters/open swimmers to join in these inaugural events. Interested swimmers for the Masters 5K and 1K races should sign up through the following link: Masters 5K and 1K
“We are thrilled to host the inaugural MPSF Open Water Swimming Championship,” says MPSF
Commissioner Foti Mellis. “The opportunity to provide collegiate swimming programs a world-class open water swimming event in the West is very exciting. This championship creates an avenue for collegiate swimmers to experience an elite level of competition. The MPSF is proud to promote the sport of open water swimming.”
Open Water Swimming has been in the Olympics since 2008. Alumni from institutions invited to the MPSF Championship have participated in every one of these Olympic Games and have medaled in both the men’s and women’s events. Long Beach will serve as the host for the open water swimming, water polo, and triathlon events at the 2028 Olympic Games.
“We love the enthusiasm and support from the open water swimming community, CSCAA, NCAA
Swimming and Diving Committee, and USA Swimming,” says MPSF Associate Commissioner for
Championships Kaia Hedlund. “The City of Long Beach is going all out to welcome this inaugural
championship to the Aquatic Capital of America.”
Further MPSF Open Water Swimming information, including Marine Stadium details, live coverage of the championship, and registration links are housed on the conference website’s championship central page
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the MPSF. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
I am looking forward to this event in the hope that the NCAA adopts Open Water as one of the premier sports in Colleges across the Nation.