MISSION VIEJO (CNS) - Mission Viejo resident David Heron won his second race in three days at the Open Water National and Junior National Championships today, finishing first in the men's 5K.
Heron was second behind Brennan Gravley entering the final lap of the three-lap race in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, but finished four seconds ahead of the University of Florida swimmer, completing the course in 59 minutes, 29 seconds.
Dylan Gravley, the younger brother of Brennan Gravley, was third in 59:36.
“This competition was really exciting because it was truly ‘open water,’ the conditions were a little bit more rough than swimming in a lake,” said Heron, who won the men's 10K race Friday. “It's fun not knowing what to expect in a race and I like that about open water.” The national championship was fifth for Heron. He also won the 5K races in 2012, 2017 and 2018.
Heron competes for the Mission Viejo Nadadores. He graduated from Mission Viejo High School in 2013. Heron completed his college swimming career at Tennessee in 2018.
The 26-year-old Heron began swimming when he was 7 years old because “My mom wanted me to learn to swim stroke.”
(PHOTOS: Getty Images)