June 6, 2006

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLA.--Chip Peterson won his second title of the week Sunday at the 2006 Open Water National Championships in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., finishing the 10K race with a time of 1 hour, fifty minutes and 13 seconds. Chloe Sutton, meanwhile, was the top swimmer on the women's side, turning in a time of 2:00:20.

Peterson was coached at the meet by North Carolina assistant coach Catherine Vogt.

The defending world champion in the 10K distance, Peterson, of Carteret Currents, also won the 5K race on the first day of competition. Sutton, of The Fish, was second in the 5K, behind Kirsten Groome of North Baltimore Aquatic Club.

The men's race came down to the wire, with the top four swimmers separated by just four seconds. Peterson out-touched Scott Kaufman of Reno, who finished with a time of 1:50:13.10. Mark Warkentin of SBSC was third in 1:50:16, while Dan DeMarco of Long Island was fourth in 1:50:17.

The women's 10K was also a close race, with 10 seconds separating the top four. Olympian Kalyn Keller of Trojan Swim Club finished behind Sutton in 2:00:22, followed by Katie Ball of GSC in 2:00:23 and 2006 Pan American champion Erica Rose in 2:00.30.

In the 10K relay, Pinecrest (Joey Pedraza, Dawid Goszczycki and Stephano Miranda) came out on top of the men's field with a final time of 6:16:53, while Mission Viejo (Chad La Tourette, Justin Mortimer and Micha Burden) won the mixed relay in 5:55:50.

Championship Notes:

Quotes From UNC assistant coach Catherine Vogt.
"It was the toughest field of competitors U.S. Nationals has ever had, including Larsen Jensen, current American record holder in the 1500-meter freestyle, and many other decorated open water swimmers. It was a tough, close race and the first time Chip has won the five and 10K at Nationals. The field was so strong because this past October, the 10K was added as an Olympic event in Beijing 2008 and will be televised. Peterson qualified (with one other swimmer Scott Kauffmann) for the Pan Pacific Championship Team and will compete in the 10K in Victoria, Canada this summer on August 16. He will also be competiting and defending his title as World Champion at the Open World World Championships in Naples, Italy at the end of August."