Northwestern University Athletics
Kate Stephensen Competes in USA Swimming Open Water 5K Championship
6/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
June 10, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern senior Kate Stephensen (Davis, Calif./Davis Senior High) competed in the 2011 USA Swimming Open Water 5K National Championship Sunday, June 12, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Stephensen, who will graduate next week with degrees in history and secondary education, was one of 85 competitors entered into the field as of June 6. Seventy-seven starters began the race, with Stephensen placing 16th overall in a time of 1:03:05.90.
A distance specialist during her time at Northwestern, Stephensen knew she had the required cut time for entry into the National Championships and decided to pursue the opportunity when her NU career came to a close.
"Kate began training in February for this," said NU associate head coach Nichole Ellis. "Once the season ended, she kept coming in for mega-long distance workouts each week. I'm so excited for her, she's been a tremendous member of our program and I can't wait to see how she does this weekend."
Stephensen followed in the footsteps of another former Wildcat who went on to become an open water legend. Erica Rose graduated in 2004 as a Big Ten finalist and NCAA qualifier for Northwestern before returning to her roots as an open water swimmer. Already a 5K World Champion in 1998, Rose went on to win 10 national titles and was voted USA Open Water Swimmer of the Year four times during her career. She competed in the Grand Prix and World Cup series of races, finishing as high as third in the world rankings during the 2007 season.
In addition, current Northwestern men's swimmer Charlie Rimkus (Tustin, Calif./Beckman) -- a sophomore and 2011 NCAA qualifier -- won the 20th Anniversary U.S. Masters Swimming Big Shoulders Open Water Swim Classic 5K at Ohio Street Beach in Chicago prior to the start of the 2010-11 season.
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