Yale University student Abby Nunn beat all the men and women at the 33rd annual Chris Green Lake Swim in Charlottesville, Virginia (USA). Her victory was doubled as the U.S. Masters Swimming 1- and 2-mile open water swimming national championships were being held concurrently. She became the third female to win the overall time, winning in 40:39.67 to set a new course record and establish a new USMS national record.

Abby, competing in her first USMS race, said, “There have been a lot of fast swimmers who have competed in this race over the years and it is amazing to me that my time ranks me so highly.”

Abby also set the record for the 1-mile race, winning in 20:02.38 for another national record for 18-24 year old women.

Chris Stevenson, the well-respected masters swimming superstar, finished first among the men and second overall in 41:03.05 which broke his own national record for 40-44 men. “I knew Abby was a very open water swimmer and she had just done the 1-mile race about 15 seconds faster than I did it the previous year. My strategy was just to draft off Abby as long as I could. That worked for about half the race, but then she just gradually started pulling away. She has such a strong kick that drafting wasn’t all that advantageous.”

In addition to Abby and Chris’ records, Andrea Hunt set a 1-mile national record for women ages 60-64. Betsy Durant set a 1-mile national record for women ages 65-69. Jim McFarland set a 1-mile national record for me ages 50-54. Willis Branswell set a 1-mile national record for men ages 60-64. Marcia Barry set a women’s 60-64 record in th 2-mile cable swim.


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