KINGSTON, Tenn. – In preparation for the CSCAA Open Water Championships in Lawrence, Kan. next week, C-N swim competed in the Knoxville Open Water Race this morning.
The race takes place at Watts Bar Lake in Kingston which explores some of the best swimming holes in East Tennessee.
"The event this morning was a really nice way for our team to prepare for nationals in a week's time," said coach Jordan Taylor. "We swam the first mile as a pack with other athletes in the race to let our athletes get comfortable in that type of situation. Then for the next 2.1 miles I told the team to pick up the pace and go race.
Marcelo Figueiredo, a junior from Porto Alegre, Brazil, was the first male to complete the final session of the five-part open water series.
Regina Zipperer, a sophomore from Germantown, Tenn., was the first female to complete the swim and finished seventh overall.
Caleb Howell (Easley, S.C.) and Carson Knox (Plant City, Fla.) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively behind Figueiredo.
"Our top 5 males were separated by less than 30 seconds in the end," added Taylor. "Regina held her own with the other guys for the whole race."
"The opportunity to swim in a large pack, make efficient turns around the buoys, and manage their energy through a 5k race, were valuable lessons learned today in a friendly racing environment. The team is really excited about the opportunity to race on the national stage next week against top D1 opponents."
The CSCAA Open Water Championships will take place in Lawrence, Kan. on Sept. 16 at 10:00 a.m.
-CN-