The second day of the 2026 USA Swimming Open Water National and Junior National Championships in Sarasota, Florida saw the senior women take to the calm water in the always exciting 3 km Knockout Sprints. The top two swimmers finished in the same position as they did in yesterday’s 10 km race.
Brinkleigh Hansen (17, World Aquatics bio here) of the Saint Petersburg Aquatics advanced first out of both the 1500m heat and first out of the 1000m heat. She was looking good to win her first national championship in the 3 km Knockout Sprints.
Meanwhile, Mariah Denigan (23, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @mariahdenigan) had conserved her energy in the earlier heats, placing a comfortable 9th in the 1500m heat and 7th in the 1000m heat. Denigan is a 2024 Olympic and a veteran of the sport, having competed in the USA Swimming National Championships since she was 13 – 10 years ago.
But the podium positions in the Knockout Sprints are only earned in the final 500m finish, which Denigan won over her younger rival Hansen. Third place in the 3 km Knockout Sprints went to Brooke Travis (26, MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here) who led a trio of TAC Titans in the final 500m heat: teammates Ashley Twichell and Becca Mann,.
The top women will all end the championships with a fast 5 km race tomorrow at the Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida.
USA Swimming National Championship 3 km Knockout Sprints Results
- Mariah Denigan, 23, Ohio State University
- Brinkleigh Hansen, 17, St Petersburg Aquatics
- Brooke Travis, 26, TAC Titans
- Mila Nikanorov, 21, Ohio State University
- Paige Downey, 18, Gold Medal Swim Club
- Ashley Twichell, 37, TAC Titans
- Becca Mann, 29, TAC Titans
- Katie McCarthy, 22, University of Minnesota
- Lolly Milbaum Sarasota Sharks
- Violet Rutter, 16, Santa Clara Swim Club
Other competitors included:
- Mia Bugarin, 18, Rose Bowl Aquatics
- Olivia Busch, 22, West Virginia University
- Riley Christensen, 18, Sandpipers of Nevada
- Isabella Descent, 17, St Petersburg Aquatics
- Emma Finlin, 21, Canada
- Alex Fox, 18, Badger Swim Club
- Genevieve Franklin, 21
- Malia Groen, 17, Santa Clara Swim Club
- Karrington Hansen, 18, St Petersburg Aquatics
- Brayleigh Hoisington, 17, Sawtooth Aquatic Club
- Ayla Madara, 17, Fishers Area Swimming Tigers
- Zayda Miehl, 16, Corvalis Aquatic Team
- Mazie Moberly, 17, Gator Swim Club
- Laila Oravsky, 19, Canada
- Paige Reilly, 20
- Maddie Stuemke, 17, Kamehameha Swim Club
- Chloe Teger, 17, Orange County Gold
- Katherine Warkentin, 17, Canada
- Isabella Zarkos, 17 Sandpipers of Nevada
The remaining races tomorrow will be live-streamed on the USA Swimming Network. Watch for free here with Mike Lewis as the race announcer.
© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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