CAST to host USA Swimming Western Zone Open Water Championships

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene Area Swim Team and Inland Empire Swimming are hosting the USA Swimming 2025 Western Zone Open Water Championships on Aug. 23 at Coeur d'Alene City Park and Independence Point.

The junior national qualifier begins with the first race at 8:05 a.m.

Schedule:

5K Race (age 13-over), 5,000 meters

Men’s Race Time - ~ 8:05 a.m.

Women’s Race Time - ~ 8:15 a.m.

1.25K Race (age 9-12), 1,250 meters

Boys Race Time - ~ 10:10 a.m.

Girls Race Time - ~ 10:40 a.m.

2.5K Race (age 11–16), 2,500 meters

Boys Race Time - ~ 11:45 a.m.

Girls Race Time - ~ 11:55 a.m.

The 2025 Western Zone Open Water Championship will serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 USA Swimming Open Water Junior National Championships.

Top finishers in the 2025 5K Open Water Zone Championships will qualify for the 7.5K and 5K events at the 2026 Junior Nationals. 

The USA Swimming Western Zone include competitive swimmers from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. It also includes the Inland Empire (Eastern Washington/North Idaho/Northeast Oregon), Pacific Northwest (Washington/Oregon), San Diego Imperial (California), Sierra Nevada (California), and Snake River (Idaho/Wyoming) local swimming committees (LSCs). 

The 2023 Western Zone Open Water Championship, hosted in Coeur d’Alene, included over 160 qualified athletes. They competed in 1.25K, 2.5K, or 5K races. This event also served as a qualifier for the national and junior national open water events. 

The 2024 Western Zone Open Water Championship was held in Coronado, Calif. The 2026 Western Zone Open Water Championship will be Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Kamaole Beach Park on Maui in Hawaii.

Teams and LSCs must submit a competitive bid to host the race and are awarded years in advance.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to help with the event, including: 

• Photographer, videographer and drone operator to film the event

• Kayakers for in-water support (double kayaks, if possible)

• Event set-up and tear-down at Independence Point and City Park (Rotary Bandshell)

• IT support for printer, router, dual monitors, cables and power cords 

• Coffee vendor to supply caffeine for USA Swimming officials and event volunteers

Information: Brody Leidecker, CAST vice-chair, 208-449-2494, [email protected]