Open Water Championship

The 2024-2025 CSCAA Open Water Championship will take place on December 15, 2024 at Florida International University in Biscayne Bay. USA Swimming has once again designated the #CSCAAOWC as an approved qualifying event.  The top five finishers for each gender earn invites to the USA Swimming 5K Open Water Championships.

Eligibility & Qualifying

Participation is limited to current NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA member institutions who meet the specific event qualifying criteria. All student-athletes must be eligible as certified by their member institution. Athletes must have achieved one of the below qualifying times between January 1, 2024 and the entry deadline.  Meter conversions are acceptable.

QUALIFYING CRITERIA

500y Freestyle 1000y Free 1650y Free 5k

Women 5:10.00 10:30.00 18:00.00 1:09.00

Men 4:50.00 10:00.00 17:00.00 1:04.00

Entries

Registration will be limited to 175 individuals per gender/wave.

Details on registration will be listed below as they become available:

• Entry fee of $100 per individual

• Open registration will begin on September 3, 2024.

• Payment will be required upon registration. Payment may be made via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover or PayPal.

• To allow for appropriate planning, refunds will not be issued after October 2, 2024

The entry form is not an eligibility report; it is the coaches’ responsibility to know the eligibility of each athlete. Once you complete your entry, you will be sent confirmations via email. Please keep all of these and bring them with you to the meet (just in case).

Rules

The full event manual is available above. Current USA Swimming Rules and Regulations will govern this event. Please see Part Seven of the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations for complete list of Open Water Rules. 

Swimwear

• No swimmer shall be allowed to use or wear any device that may be an aid to his/her speed, endurance, or buoyancy.

• A maximum of two (2) caps may be used.

• Wet suits, flotation aids or any similar items, and anything used to maintain body heat, except a reasonable application of body grease, are not allowed.

Team Events

• Team events will be conducted concurrently with individual events, with the results achieved in the individual event used to compute the team scoring.

• Teams will be entered automatically based on team entries.

• Maximum of five athletes per team. Exhibition participants will be determined based on space availability.

Awards

• Individual champions shall be determined and awarded in women’s and men’s competitions.

• New in 2024! An individual male and female champion will be declared for each division.

• Awards shall be given to all first-through-eighth place finishers in each individual event.

• Team trophies shall be awarded to teams placing first-through-third.

2024 Race Day Schedule and Practice Availability

All events will occur at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus: 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami

Saturday, December 14, 2024

• Biscayne Bay Race Site Practice Availability

  • Saturday, December 14, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • No swimmers may enter the water after 4:00 p.m.

  • No pool availability on Saturday.

• Technical Meeting

  • Saturday, December 14, 4:30 p.m.

• Saturday evening meal for coaches, student-athletes and volunteers will be provided by Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau

  • Immediately following the Technical Meeting

Sunday, December 15, 2024

• Men’s 5k Race: 8:30 a.m. 

• Women’s 5k Race: 10:00 a.m.

2024 Host Hotels