Thursday, December 11, 2008

International Field Set for New York City Circumnavigation

The Manhattan Island Foundation announced a diverse field for its June 6th 2009 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. Entries were submitted electronically from all over the world. Within a few hours, the committee had vetted hundreds of entries and extended an official invitation to 27 athletes and 14 teams.

The Manhattan Island Marathon Swim 2009 competitors include 49-year-old Antonio Argüelles from Mexico City, 60-year-old Stephen Autry from Cincinnati, 36-year-old Willy Blumentals from North Bergen (New Jersey), 30-year-old Rob Deakin from London, 48-year-old Suzie Dods from San Francisco, 42-year-old Jonathan Ennis from San Francisco, 39-year-old Leticia Flores Hernandez from Mexico, 50-year-old Elizabeth Fry from Westport (Connecticut), 51-year-old Ricardo Grossman from Mexico, 40-year-old Mariel Hawley from Mexico, 31-year-old Elaine Howley from Waltham (Massachusetts), 54-year-old George Hunihan from Milford (Connecticut), 39-year-old Amanda Hunt from Sydney, 45-year-old Kathleen Jaeger from New York, 25-year-old Lennard Lee from London, 45-year-old Marcella MacDonald from Andover (Connecticut), 44-year-old Maria Matheu from Guatemala City, 34-year-old Cara McAteer from Brooklyn (New York), 27-year-old Jane McCormick from Manchester (U.K.), 37-year-old Lance Ogren from New York, 51-year-old Chris Palfrey from Townsville (Australia), 46-year-old Penny Palfrey from Townsville (Australia), 47-year-old Michael Renford from Sydney, 18-year-old Conor Rowley from London and 36-year-old John Van Wisse from Beaumaris (Australia). 38-year-old Carlos Komori from Mexico and 33-year-old Anna Wardley from Gosport (U.K.) are waitlisted.

The 25 solo swimmers and 14 teams (2-person, 4-person and 6-person relays) will start and finish near Wall Street and will race 45.8K (28.5 miles) around Manhattan Island. The race was first held in 1927 and has seen many of the world’s best swimmers stake their own claims around New York City. Substantial surface chop and strong tidal pull are possible, but the water temperature are reasonable (17-19°C or 64-67°F).

Race photos from Susan Egan.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

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