The La Jolla Rough Water Swim Report by Bill Ireland (9/9/01)

Editor's Note: Thanks Bill for a great report! If anyone would like to send in news on the 3 mile, please send email to me.

The 71st annual La Jolla Rough Water Swim had an overcast, grey, cool day with rough but warm water -- 69 or 70 degrees which is hardly shivering at all on the SCAQ shivering scale, although cooler than Blue Hawaii. The swim claims to be the oldest in the world (and it isn't even the oldest in San Diego County) and it claims to be the largest in the world with nearly 2000 entrants from 5 countries and 22 states, in 17 different heats and events, but it almost certainly isn't that either. However, it is a biiiig swim with lots of SCAQ, and SCAQ affiliated representation, unto the second generation. SCAQ still has a ways to go to match the San Diego based Pipes, or Schumacher clans which each had 3 generations of participation. Rick Phillips, Peter O'Keefe and Bill Ireland all had the pleasure of watching their children compete. Rick Phillips' sons placed 4th (Everett) and 8th (Alexander), Bill's daughters finished 16th (Katherine)and 17th (Libby), while Peter and Sandy (who both did the one-mile swim) watched Nicole attempt and complete the one-mile swim, having aged out of the younger set's 250 yard swim.

In the men's masters one-mile, of the 425 finishers (one guy turned around in ankle deep water when he couldn't fix his goggles -- and several were fished out by the alert San Diego lifeguards in the middle leg chop), Alex Kostich finished narrowly behind Ryk Neething, of the South African Olympic team, while winning his age group. Grant Levy was 6th overall in the one-mile and triumphant in the 35 to 39 age group. Jeni Buys was 7th overall in the woman's swim, and 3rd in her age group. Peter O'Keefe was 2nd in his age group, and 28th overall, ahead of Mac Montgomery who finished 5th in the same 50-54 group. Bill Ireland snuck into the age group medals at 4th in the 40-44, and 13th overall, finishing just behind Rick Phillips, who snuck ahead at the finish coming out of the surge, and into 12th place overall, and 3rd in his 45-49 age group. Also swimming in the one-mile were Robert and Cat -- who are Cove swimming stalwarts, and their places were not reported (oops and apologies) although they finished strong. Other SCAQ members also are going un-reported but were present and competing.

In somewhat of a change from prior years, fewer competitors attempted the double with the Gatorman (although everyone had good reasons for not doing so -- none of which involved lethargy, age or fatigue), and this correspondent left before the finish of the 3-mile so we don't know how people finished. Hence, this is a "partial" report. But it can be reported that the event claimed to have fixed one problem as the turnaround was supposed to be aligned with the end of the Scripps Pier, unlike prior years. Dawn Heckman started the swim, together with Alex K, Parks Wesson, Chris Yontez, Auggie, and others. Hopefully everyone finished and strongly, and had a good time.

In other news, John J. won his agegroup and finished very well overall in the LA Triathlon. He and other triathlete buddies are preparing for next weekend's Malibu race.

Editor's Note: Congrats to all, especially the little oceanswimming buddies!