In tight races, Olympic silver medalist Haley Anderson (Granite Bay, Calif./Trojan Swim Club) and National Team member David Heron (Mission Viejo, Calif./ University of Tennessee) won the 5-kilometer national titles Sunday to close the USA Swimming Open Water National Championships.

With the victory, Anderson will have the chance to defend her 5K world title for the third time at this summer’s FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, while Heron will compete in this event for the second straight world championships. Joining Anderson and Heron in Budepest for the 5K will be Ashley Twichell (Fayetteville, N.Y./North Carolina Aquatic Club) as the second American finisher, touching fourth overall in the women’s race, and men’s runner-up finisher Andrew Gemmell (Wilmington, Del./ Nation’s Capital Swim Club).

Women’s 5-kilometer National Championship - Final

Results – Complete Results

1. Haley Anderson (Granite Bay, Calif./Trojan Swim Club), 1:01:52.23
2. Rachele Bruni (Italy), 1:01:53.81
3. Arianna Bridi (Italy), 1:01:55.06

Notes

• Following her win today, Anderson will swim the 5K at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest. She is the two-time defending world champion in the event having won in 2013 in Barcelona and 2015 in Kazan, Russia.
• Anderson now has four career 5K U.S. national titles – 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
• After winning the 10K on Friday, Twichell finished fourth and was the No. 2 American in today’s 5K to earn a spot alongside Anderson in Budapest. The women’s 5K is set for July 19. Twichell won bronze in the 5K at 2011 Worlds.
• Anderson and Twichell will also swim the 10K at the FINA World Championships.

Men’s 5-kilometer National Championship – Final

Results – Complete Results

1. David Heron (Mission Viejo, Calif. / University of Tennessee), 57:25.75
2. Andrew Gemmell (Wilmington, Del./ Nations Capital Swim Club), 57:26.08
3. Caleb Hughes (Great Britain), 57:28.35

Notes

• With today’s victory, Heron earns a spot on his second straight FINA World Championships roster. He was sixth in the 5K in 2015.
• Heron won his second career 5K national title and first since 2012.
• With Sunday’s runner-up finish in the 5K, Gemmell earned a spot on his fourth career FINA World Championships roster and first since 2013.

The pool roster for FINA World Championships will be decided at Phillips 66 National Championships June 27-July 1 in Indianapolis, Ind. Find more information visit usaswimming.org.