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Open Water Championships
Sunny skies, waves and sand set the stage for the second annual Open Water Championships held in conjunction with Connecticut Masters, at the Madison Surf Club on June 29th. Over 150 CSI swimmers toted sunscreen to the shoreline, in addition to the usual swim accouterments, and joined the masters' swimmers in an open water swim known as the "Madison Mile". The swimmers started in groups called "waves" five minutes apart and followed a course marked by buoys. Kayaks and canoes were positioned along the course to provide direction and assistance if needed. The race ended, not with a touch at the wall, but with a 25 yard run up the beach and over the finish line. Each athlete was assigned a number and wore an electronic bracelet which recorded his or her finish time. After the race, snacks were provided and teams could stay and picnic.
This is the only Connecticut competition that brings together athletes and coaches. Many coaches from CSI teams competed including all the the coaches from VSYM; Rob Collum, Sandy Ferreira and Chris Kelley. Also competing were Monique Crane, (formerly of SOCO and mother to 6 week old twins), Michael Dignan (MCC), Jennifer Gordon (NMYB), Henk Jansen (OMNI), Geoff Munger (NCY), Jason Paige (NCY), Jeff Schare (WRAT), Jack Stabach (NMEG) and Cathy Topping (EDST).
Many of the masters' athletes have swum notable open water competitions including the English Channel. LEHY coach, Marcy MacDonald, Meet Director Dave Parcells and Marcia Cleveland are some that have swum the channel, even more than once. Swimming is truly a life-long sport!
News Flash! Best of luck to CSI/WYW official, Jim Bayles, as he leaves soon to swim the English Channel.
The fastest female swimmer overall went to Tammie Repass of SOCO and fastest male swimmer overall went to Ben Michaelson of SOCO.
Top 3 by Age Group:
11/12 Girls
Emily Hunter, SOCO
Carsyn Crane, SOCO
Jacqueline Belanger, SOCO
13/14 Girls
Melanie Rodriguez, SOCO
Theresa Altieri, OMNI
Megan Renzoni, VSYM
15/16 Girls
Haley Ottenbreit, HNHS
Jamie Falco, HNHS
Kristen Skroski, SOCO
17/18 Girls
Kaki Dudley, WYW
Danielle Honrath, SOCO
Lauren Kalata, WYW
19/O Girls
Tammie Repass, SOCO
Jaime Ryan, WYW
Kelly Ottenbreit, HNHS
11/12 Boys
Will Collum, VSYM
Craig Zevin, GLAS
Brendin Beaulieu-Jones, SOCO
13/14 Boys
Stephen Cosme, OAK
Schuyler Beeman, VSYM
Jon Wardle, WAC
15/16 Boys
Geoffrey Rathgeber, SOCO
Thomas Mazzaferro, CDEV
Ralph Rienzo, HNHS
17/18 Boys
Kevin Koslosky, WYW
Andrew Michaelson, SOCO
Stephen Heyer, SOCO
19/O Boys
Ben Michaelson, SOCO
Sean Raffile, SOCO
Austin D'Arcy, SOCO
Congratulations to all participants!!
Complete set of RESULTS.
PICTURES
Special thanks to Dave Parcells, Dave Lamberti and CT USMS for making this event possible for Connecticut swimmers and to CSI volunteers Clark Cooper, Liz Cooper, Susan Lecza and Helena Vitagliano!
