Esiquiel ‘Zeke’ Garzon, a 17-year-old from Whittier, upended the Old Guard at the 3-mile race around Naples Island in Long Beach, California.
Garzon took out the race fast, took some good navigational lines around the island, pushed the pace, and never let former winners Matthew McDermott, defending champion formerly of USC, multi-time winner Ryan Bullock, perennial top contender Brandon Samaniego, and all-time winningest Naples Island champion Alex Kostich encroach on his lead.
Two UCLA water polo players also placed in the Top 10 in the 3-miler: channel/marathon swimmer and 4-time All-American Paul Reynolds and 18-year-old Ryder Dodd who just returned from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with his water polo teammates. You have to appreciate Dodd’s enthusiasm for competing in a local open water race so soon after helping the USA win a bronze medal in a thrilling overtime victory over Hungary in Paris. He scored a total of 8 goals during the Olympics as the youngest player on the USA team.
On the women’s side, Kathleen Hohwald was in the lead pack among the men and held her own, finishing 8th overall in 55:05 in the Naples Island Swim. The 35-year-old had previously won the 2022 Naples Island Swims 3-miler in 54:50 and the 2021 race in 53:22. Defending champion Theodora Sabev finished second in 58:42 and Sophia Johnston Bouchard finished third in 1:01:50 on a warm, sunny day in the flat bay water of Naples Island.
Men’s 3 Mile Top 10 Results
- Esiquiel Garzon, Whittier Aquatics Club 53:30
- Matthew McDermott, NOVA 53:52
- Ryan Bullock, LAPS 54:33
- Brandon Samaniego, SWIM LB 54:38
- Alex Kostich 54:41
- Tyler Fidler, Golden Road Aquatics 54:49
- Paul Reynolds, SoCal Ocean Swimmers 54:59
- Ryder Dodd 55:39
- Mateus Luevano 57:16
- Jackson Lawrence 57:20
Women’s 3 Mile Top 10 Results
- Kathleen Hohwald 55:05
- Theodora Sabev 58:42
- Sophia Johnston Bouchard, TC Falcon Swim Club 1:01:50
- Klara Maresch, Fusion Aquatics 1:01:23
- Wendy Zeiss, Blast Sharks 1:01:32
- Mia Bugarin, Rose Bowl Aquatics 1:01:40
- Lilli Perner, Rose Bowl Aquatics 1:01:40
- Heather Meckelborg 1:03:50
- Melinna ‘Didi’ Jimenez, La Mirada Aquatics 1:05:16
- Kayla Hargreaves, La Mirada Aquatics 1:05:16
Men’s 1 Mile Top 10 Results
- William (Ty) Maldonado 26:11
- Kirill Chacon, San Dimas Aquatics 26:22
- Ryan Zeng 26:25
- Cash Trowbridge, Los Alamitos High School 26:27
- Jonah Bui, Rosemead Rapids 26:30
- Thomas Fernandez 26:33
- Maximiliano Alatorre 26:33
- Derrick Wong, Rose Bowl Aquatics 26:33
- Zachary Zhou, Max Aquatics 26:39
- Gannon Bloeser, Shore Aquatics 26:52
Women’s 1 Mile Top 10 Results
- Samira Semaan, Golden West Swim Club 26:40
- Lexie Kelly 26:51
- Isabel Maust, Desert Aquatics 28:27
- Paola Maust, Desert Aquatics 2829
- Katelyn Schumacher 2834
- Jacqueline Greene, Viking Aquatics 28:36
- Gabrielle Landy, CMAC 28:44
- Zoe Grover 28:46
- Sara Dawidian 28:57
- Rena Maresch, Fusion Aquatics 29:02
Men’s 500 Yard Top 10 Results
- Raylan Hong, Max Aquatics 7:36
- Kurt Gartlamd, Max Aquatics 7:46
- Adrian Diaz, Desert Aquatics 7:54
- Zander Kwan, Max Aquatics 8:25
- Enoch Leung, Max Aquatics 8:50
- Marcus Lee, Max Aquatics 8:50
- Lang Andy Chen, Max Aquatics 8:54
- Aiden Kwan, Max Aquatics 9:07
- Michael Green, La Mirada Aquatics 9:34
- Athan Segura 9:42
Women’s 500 Yard Top 10 Results
- Aracely Diaz, Desert Aquatics 8:15
- Brooklyn Ameele, Max Aquatics 8:18
- Olivia Tricano, Seal Beach Swim Club 8:41
- Jae Kim, Max Aquatics 8:43
- Kalea Canton, Max Aquatics 8:56
- Kana Reese, Seal Beach Swim Club 9:02
- Chelsey Castillo, Fairfield Sharks 9:37
- Jana Viktoria, Arcadia Riptides Swim Club 9:48
- Kalista Rose Remyn 9:50
- Meliti Skandali 9:59
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shore“
A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.