2025 USMS Open Water National Championships

Races and Dates

USMS Sprint-Distance Open Water Nationals (1-mile): Friday, April 4 at 5:00 pm
USMS Long-Distance Open Water Nationals (5K): Saturday, April 5 at 11:00 am

Venue

Nathan Benderson Park
5851 Nathan Benderson Circle
Sarasota, FL 34235

The 600-acre Nathan Benderson Park features a freshwater lake. The venue regularly hosts major events, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Rowing Trials and the NCAA Rowing Championships, and will be hosting USA Swimming’s National and Junior Championships for the third consecutive year.

The expected water temperature is 78-82 degrees F.

USMS Timeline (subject to change)

USMS Sprint-Distance Open Water Nationals (1-mile) on Friday, April 4
- 3:00-4:30 pm: athlete on-site registration and body marking opens
- 4:40 pm: mandatory safety meeting
- 5:00 pm: first wave starts
USMS Long-Distance Open Water Nationals (5K) on Saturday, April 5
- 9:00-10:30 am: athlete on-site registration and body marking opens
- 10:40 am: mandatory safety meeting
- 11:00 am: first wave starts

USA Swimming Timeline

Spectators are welcome for the USA Swimming Open Water National Championships, which are free and open to the public. Cheer on the best open water swimmers in the country! See more details here.

10K National Championships on Friday, April 4
- Women’s Race 10:00 am
- Men’s Race 12:30 pm
5K Junior National Championships (15-U Age Group) on Saturday, April 5
- Men’s Race 8:30 am
- Women’s Race 8:35 am
5K National Championships on Sunday, April 6
- Men’s Race 8:30 am
- Women’s Race 8:35 am
7.5K Junior National Championships (16-17 Age Group) on Sunday, April 6
- Men’s Race 10:00 am
- Women’s Race 10:05 am

Course

The 1-mile and 5K courses will be marked with colored buoys. Swimmers will swim in a counterclockwise direction for the rectangular courses. Course maps coming soon.

Event Sanction

Sanctioned by the Florida LMSC for USMS Inc. Sanction Number 145-W001.

Entries

Online entries will be accepted between the below dates and will close at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, on the last day of the entry period or when capacity is reached.

January – February 19: $40 for 1-mile, $60 for 5K, or $85 for both
February 20 – March 31: $55 for 1-mile, $75 for 5K, or $100 for both

Eligibility and International Swimmers

Participants must be registered Masters swimmers and at least 18 years of age as of April 3. Swimmers turning 18 after the entry deadline and by April 3, must enter the meet by the entry deadline and register for USMS either before or on April 3.

If a swimmer wishes to affiliate with a Masters club, the club and swimmer must both be registered with the same Local Masters Swimming Committee (LMSC). If there are questions about affiliation, the swimmer will be entered with the affiliation “UC” (Unattached).

International swimmers are required to be a member of their governing body. Contact Event Services to enter.

Registration

Prior to arriving at the facility, all participants must complete an online form which includes a liability waiver and emergency contact information. The form will be emailed prior to the event. Registration will open at Benderson Park starting at 3:00 pm on Friday, April 4 and 9:00 am on Saturday, April 5.

Swimwear and Caps

All swimwear shall be made from textile materials and not contain clasps or zippers. For both men and women, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck and shall not extend past the shoulder nor below the ankles. Wetsuits and neoprene caps are not allowed. No fins, buoys, or other devices will be allowed. You must wear the swim cap provided for your specific race.

Swim Time Limit

You must be able to swim within the time limit. Swimmers who do not finish within the time allotted will be pulled from the course. The 1-mile time limit is one hour. The 5K time limit is 2 hours 15 minutes.

Awards

Awards will be distributed at the venue once results are finalized. For each distance, medals will be awarded to the top six men and women in each age group: 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, (additional 5-year age groups as needed). The winner of each age group will also receive a National Champion patch.

Rules

Current USMS Rules will govern this event. See part 3 of the USMS Rule book for details.

Questions?

Please contact USMS Event Services at events@usmastersswimming.org or 941-256-8767.

Refund Policy

Event management reserves the right to cancel the race or move to a later time in the event of inclement weather, emergency, or natural disaster. In the event of cancellation, entry fees will not be refunded.