Minnesota junior Michael Daup became the first Open Water national champion in school history yesterday after winning the USA Swimming 25K National Championship in Fort Myers, Fla.

Daup finished the course, which was more than 15.5 miles, with a time of five hours, 46 minutes, and had to contend with choppy water and 90-degree heat – making the already-difficult competition all the more demanding.

“Michael was amazing in some very difficult conditions,” Gophers assistant coach Bill Tramel said in a statement. “It’s an incredible accomplishment for him.”

Daup also finished fifth in the 5K national championship on Saturday and will compete in the 10K Open Water National Championships in August – hosted on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.