University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Swimmers to Compete in Open Water Nationals
6/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
June 7, 2011
PITTSBURGH—Three members of Pitt’s swimming and diving team will compete in the Open Water Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Friday, June 10. Junior Kelsey Herbst and sophomore Lauren Matevish will race in the 10K, while junior Jared Kolwyck will participate in the 5K event.
Herbst and Matevish look to qualify for the 2011 World Championships, the 2011 World University Games and eventually the 2012 Olympics by swimming in the 10K. The women’s field will consist of more than 40 swimmers, which includes the top U.S. Open Water athletes. Both women qualified for the championship by posting strong pool swims in the distance events this past season.
Director of Swimming Operations and Senior Assistant Coach Marian Clark will be coaching the women at the championship meet. Clark brings a wealth of open water experience to the table. She was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and was ranked as high as second in the world and first in the U.S. for open water swimming during her career.
“Kelsey and Lauren are excited about the opportunity to race on such a big stage this weekend,” Clark said. “They are looking to rise to the challenges that open water elements present and to race a distance that is nearly nine times farther than they would go in a collegiate meet.”
Matevish, Herbst and Kolwyck are newcomers to the venue of open water swimming. Matevish finished 22nd in a field of 50 during the 2010 National 5K Championships in Long Beach, Calif. last June. This week will be her first attempt at the 10K distance.
Herbst has participated in various local open water events, however this weekend will mark her first 10K and her first salt water race.
This will be Kolwyck’s first Open Water National meet.
