Contributed by Bill Welzien
The 30th Annual 12.5 Mile around Key West took place on June 10th.
The swim began at 7:30AM and it was a wild adventure for all it participants.
Strong winds, choppy waters and thunder showers made for the most challenging
condition in the event’s history.
So difficult were the condition that only 39 of the 55 entrants finished the course.
The event this year consisted of 22 solo swimmers, 3 two person teams and
9 three person relay teams.
Topping the solo division were Marcos Diaz from the Dominican Republic with a time of 3:54:31.
In second was Alaskan, James Barkman with a time of 4:37:50 and coming in third over all
in the solo division was Carina Bruwer from South Africa at 4:39:15.
Fourteen of the solo swimmers completed the swim.
Only 2 of the 2 person relays completed the event.
Taking a first place in this category was the team of Nathan Rieck and Robert Rivas
of Sebastian, Florida with a time of 6:16:40 and in
second was the husband and wife team from Colorado, Andrew and Leslie Holton at 9:09:51.
Leslie swam in place against the current at the Fleming Cut for 45 minutes!
Two of the three person relays dropped out. Placing first and second in this division were
Cyle Sage, Julie Carysone and Javier Beuzeville with a time of 4:26:03
and in second place was the team of Ryan Mc Near, Jana McNear and Kris Neuschaefer
swimming in at 5:35:45.
The date for the 31st Annual 12.5 Miler Swim around Key West will take place on June 16, 2007.