15-year-old Brinkleigh Hansen (@brinkleigh_hansen, World Aquatics bio here) has quite a future ahead of her in the international open water swimming world.

Reminiscent of the world and Olympic victories of International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Larisa Ilchenko (MSF bio here),  Hansen earned a come-from-behind victory in her home state at the 2025 USA Swimming Open Water Swimming National Championships.

She sat back and drafted – like a veteran – behind 2024 Olympians Claire Weinstein (USA, 18, World Aquatic bio here) and Mariah Denigan (MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here) who led during the second half. Then, she shot out in front and won her first national championship, qualifying for the 2025 World Aquatics Championship in Singapore this July.

Hansen had performed an Ilchenko before, winning the 5 km at the 2024 World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in  similarly dramatic fashion at the age of 14 [see video below]. Similar to another Saint Petersburg Aquatics swimmer Bobby Finke who won Olympic medals with a tremendous closing kick, the Fred Lewis protege typically comes from behind with a fast and strategic final sprint – as she has her long-term sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Athletes from Japan, Canada, and Australia joined in the competition with the Americans who all benefited from looking at cables that were positioned underwater.

2024 Canadian Olympian Emma Finlin finished 9th and qualified for the World Championships in Singapore.

“Nathan Benderson Park here is a great venue to host open water events. Swimming Canada would like to thank USA Swimming for allowing us to partner at their event to run our trials,” said High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson. “This year having a two-pronged strategy of 1,500m pool time and open water position is something that we’re going to continue with into the future. Once the selections are ratified, we’ll have good plans in place so the swimmers can maximize their performance in Singapore.”

19-year-old Finlin had to make adjustments after swimming mostly 25-yard short-course meets during her freshman season at Ohio State University. “I just tried to put my best race down. I haven’t done open water since the Olympics so it was definitely a change of scenery. I always forget how aggressive it is the first lap, it’s kind of a wakeup call that first lap, then you kind of settle into pace.”

The top Canadian woman was Abby Dunford who trains at the host Sarasota Sharks in a time of 2:05:25, 39 seconds faster than Finlin for eighth place.  She had a full labrum repair operation last year and has been working her way back.  “I give it all to my coach, I give it all to my team. I wouldn’t be here without all my supporters, my parents. I’m just really blessed to be here and I’m excited for my future in open water and distance swimming. This is just the start of my open water career and I’m excited to keep it going and start training even harder.”

https://youtu.be/ksvEnTD1oIA

Top 3 Results – Full results to be posted shortly

1. Brinkleight Hansen, 16 Saint Petersburg Aquatics 2:04:09
2. Claire Weinstein, 18 Sandpipers Of Nevada 2:04:11
3. Mariah Denigan, 21 Indiana University 2:04:16
4. Brooke Travis, 24 TAC Titans 2:04:46
5. Misa Okuzono, 19 Japan 2:04:53
6. Ichika Kajimoto, 21 Japan 2:05:21
7. Becca Mann, 27 TAC Titans 2:05:22
8. Abby Dunford, 19 Canada 2:05:25
9. Emma Finlin, 19 Edmonton Keyano Swim Club, Canada 2:06:04
10. Madeleine Gough, 25 Australia 2:06:55
11. Daisy Collins, 17 North Carolina Aquatic Club 2:07:59
12. Sophia Karras, 21 Long Island Aquatic Club 2:08:46
13. Camille Henveaux, 19 California Aquatics 2:08:48
14. Lolly Milbaum, 18 Sarasota Sharks 2:09:39
15. Alexandra Siegel, 15 Long Island Aquatic Club 2:09:53
16. Claire Stuhlmacher, 19 Indiana University 2:10:08
17. Taira Vroom, 18 Barrie Trojan Swim Club 2:10:23
18. Maya Geringer, 23 California Aquatics 2:10:49
19. Izzy Wilson, 19 South Florida Aquatic Club 2:11:21
20. Justice Beard, 19 Swimchester Sailfish 2:11:36
21. Libby Grether, 20 Kentucky Aquatics 2:11:51
22. Bella Tramontana, 19 Sandpipers of Nevada 2:15:26
23. Riley Christensen, 17 Sandpipers of Nevada 2:15:32
24. Paige Housman, 20 Kentucky Aquatics 2:16:03
25. Grace Alegi, 16 Sarasota Sharks 2:17:32
26. Delphine Piatera-Mercier, 16 Club de Natation de Sherbrooke 2:23:55
27. Katie Grimes, 19 Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA DNS
28. Jaqueline Davison-McGovern, 21 Australia DNS
29. Laila Oravsky, 18 Barrie Trojan Swim Club DNS
30. Lexie Ward, 18 Carmel Swim Club DNS
31. Nora Weber, 18 Germantown Academy Aquatic Club DNS

© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“

A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.