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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchives125 Finish Beach-to-Beach Swim for Power or Pleasure

125 Finish Beach-to-Beach Swim for Power or Pleasure

From as far as Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland, as well as St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix, swimmers old, young and in between took to the water off Maho Bay beach on Sunday morning for the first Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, sponsored by Friends of V.I. National Park.
Organizers said they were impressed by the turnout and the enthusiasm of the swimmers.
Out of 142 swimmers who entered the event, nearly 125 — some trained athletes, some strictly recreational swimmers — crossed the finish line of either the short course – 1.2 miles from Maho to Cinnamon Bay; or the long course — 3.5 miles from Maho to Hawksnest Beach. Those in the long course entered either individually or as teams of three members who swam in relays, changing off at Cinnamon and Trunk Bay beaches.
"We were surprised at the number of people for a first event of this type," John Fuller, Friends organization chair, said. "And we've been promised that while there were very few relay swimmers this year, look out, next year! It's going to be a big, big event when people realize how much fun it was."
Those who are wondering how well they did can check the standings out on the Power Swim page of the Friends Web site. Top finishers are listed below.
For many participants, such as 14-year-old Daniel Hodge of St. Thomas, Sunday's beach swim was – well, a day at the beach. A swimmer since he was 7, Daniel brought some friends and younger cousins to swim along with him. "I live next to the water at home, at Coki Point Beach," he said.
Children's book author and St. John resident Christina Kessler and a friend, Mary Blazine, celebrated Kessler's upcoming knee surgery by taking a swim. "I'm signing off on my old knee, thanking it for 54 good years," Kessler said.
George Williams, age 9, took part as a member of the Dolphins Swim Team from Country Day School on St. Croix. He said the short course was "a little calmer" than the waters he's used to swimming in off St. Croix.
Joe Kessler, Friends executive director, said in announcing the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim in March that it "celebrates the beaches and the waters of V.I. National Park — two of the most special features of the park — and it builds upon St. John's growing reputation as a center of challenging sporting events."
The swim took place entirely in V.I. National Park waters. Registration was $25 in advance and $40 at a pre-swim meeting held Saturday evening at Maho Bay Camps. The money raised through the event will benefit the park's summer learn-to-swim program for local children and other park projects.
Fuller, the chief organizer of the event, led a troupe of volunteers on Sunday morning who cheered the racers off at the start then raced — by car — up North Shore Road themselves to greet the swimmers at the subsequent stops along the course.
At the Hawksnest finish, Fuller busied himself posting unofficial times on a bulletin board.
"Every racer sets their personal best for the race, and every winner, the winner of each category, sets a course record, because it's the first," he pointed out, adding: Come back next year, and beat it."
According to a release from the Friends group, the event attracted top athletes such as Jose Colman-Davis and Alberto Gonzalez from Puerto Rico, as well as the contingent from the St. Croix Dolphins swim team. Branden Whitehurst, a 14-year-old Dolphin team member, took top honors on the long course with a time of 1:21:15. His sister Keri, another team member, placed first overall on the short course from Maho Bay to Cinnamon Bay with a time of 21:09.
Race results — top three finishers
Long course – solo
Men
1. Branden Whitehurst, St. Croix — 1:21:15
2. Bob Crowderm St. John — 1:29:20
3. Jesse Dedman, Puerto Rico — 1:30:50
Women
1. Barbara Crowder, St. John — 1:27:00
2. Libby Arnold, St. John — 1:31:25
3. Louise DePuy, St. John — 1:31:38

Long course – assisted
Men
1. Allen Lancaster, St. John — 1:40:06
2. John Holden, St. John — 1:48:22
3. Sonny Parnell, St. Thomas — 3:11:30
Women
1. Meredith Fletcher, St.John — 1:50:46
2. Christy Loomis, St. John — 1:51:10
3. Christine Chapman, St. John — 1:54:40

Long Course – relay, unassisted
First-place team: Kevin Bonner (Maryland), Karen Cannell (Massachusetts) and Janice Bonner (Maryland) — 1:49:37

Long course – relay, assisted
First-place team: Squid Women (Mary Blazine, Kelley Hunter and Christina Kessler, all of St. John) – 1:52:20
Second-place team: Jan Courlas, (St. John) Ashley Courlas (St. John) and Elena Shauba St. Croix — 2:20:13

Short course – solo
Men
1. Chris Sweet, Illinois – 26:16
2. Matthew Crafts, St. John – 27:35
3. Willie Edwards, St. Croix – 28:12
Women
1. Keri Whitehurst, St. Croix – 21:09
2. Cindy Adams, St. John – 25:54
3. Allison Schnook, St. Thomas – 26:28

Short course – assisted
Men
1. James Whitehurst, St. Croix – 24:38
2. George Williams, St. Croix – 26:05
3. Hodari Jacobs-El, St. Croix – 26:45
Women
1. Chris Meyer, St. John – 28:14
2. Samantha Smith, St. Croix – 28:30
3. Yemaya Benta, St. Croix – 28:50

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