As always and as intended, race director Kent Nicholas culminates the annual SCAR Swim Challenge in the dark, organizing the final 10 km swim on a triangular course in the absolute pitch blackness.

As the sun set on Roosevelt Lake on the last leg of the 4-lake, 4-day stage swim, the 42 swimmers had lights affixed to their goggles and headed to the shoreline of Roosevelt Lake. Their escort kayaks were lit with glow sticks and other forms of illumination. Once the sun set, it was lights out on a night with a lot less turbulence than Day 3 on Apache Lake, but still with some texture on the lake’s surface.

Nicholas writes, “Roosevelt was a beautiful night beginning with a tailwind, a sunset and then it was lights out. With 38 out of 42 swimmers making it to the finish, it was a success.”

Because Day 1 on Saguaro Lake, Day 2 on Canyon Lake, and Day 3 on Apache Lake all started in the early morning hours, the swimmers were able to enjoy beautiful sunrises. But Day 4 on Roosevelt Lake is much different, specifically designed by Nicholas to test the mettle of the swimmers. When the swimmers and their escort kayakers are extremely fatigued, Nicholas culminates the stage swim with a 10 km night swim in the dark.

But the swimmers and their kayakers soldiered on with 21 of the 44 swimmers ultimately completing all four stage swims. It was a sweet

It was especially so for 30-year-old Nikko Price and 15-year-old Lorelie Schmidt who took home the famed SCAR Buckles, given to the fastest overall male and female swimmers. Price had a battle on his hands, squeaking out the closest victory in the history of the event. Price and second-place Jay Eckert were only separated by 3 minutes 45 seconds after over 15 hours of swimming.

Roosevelt Lake Finishers

1. Nikko Price, Florida 2:26:14.9
2. Jay Eckert, Florida 2:28:55.3
3. David McGlynn, Wisconsin 2:30:34.4
4. Erica S. Esterly, Arizona 2:36:06.8
5. James McDonald, California 2:38:36.0
6. Steve Leitch, South Carolina 2:39:43.2
7. Lorelei Schmidt, North Carolina 2:42:21.1
8. Steven Sherry, Arizona 2:44:54.2
9. Taylor Stallings-Pinnick, Florida 2:46:27.5
10. Emily Lane, Colorado 2:46:56.9
11. Allison Crush, Tennessee 2:53:50.0
12. Eric Kinney, California 2:54:14.8
13. Malena Hankins, Georgia 2:55:58.2
14. Rob Forst, Texas 3:05:13.1
15. Susie Paul, Arizona 3:06:17.5
16. Grabriela Rojas Molina, Venezuela 3:06:23.4
17. Mary Singer, Washington 3:07:04.9
18. Lars Durban, Washington 3:07:19.5
19. Eric Durban, Washington 3:07:19.6
20. Jennifer Murphy, 3:12:34.3
21. Heather Fairbanks, Virginia 3:13:24.8
22. Dana Price, Arizona 3:14:57.5
23. Sara Stevenson, South Carolina 3:16:39.7
24. Robin Batchelor, North Carolina 3:17:17.8
25. Erica Gliebe, California 3:26:02.1
26. Sophia Bouhaddou, California 3:26:30.0
27. Jennifer Dunton, Florida 3:30:46.4
28. Cecelia Wigal, Tennessee 3:35:22.6
29. Terri Dietz, Hawaii 3:38:10.3
30. Carol Wortman, Maryland 3:39:02.9
31. Janelle Westfall, Arizona 3:42:31.3
32. Justin James, Arizona 3:47:29.5
33. Antonio Argüelles, Mexico 3:48:48.9
34. Andrew Wallace, New Jersey 3:51:12.2
35. Marnie Whitley, Arizona 3:56:59.1
36. Kristiana Elisabeth Fox, Arizona 3:57:35.9
37. Tom Linthicum, California 4:18:45.4
38. Mackenzie Thomas, California 4:37:59.7 [wetsuit]
39. Marysue Balazic, Washington DNF
40. Peter Hayden, California DNF
41. Shelley Stewart, Florida DNF
42. Laura Ruberto, Florida DNF

2024 Swimmer List:

1. Allison Crush
2. Andrew Wallace – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2022 SCAR veteran
3. Antonio Argüelles – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – Oceans Seven swimmer and Triple Crown veteran
4. Bradley Lundblad – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023 SCAR veteran
5. Carol Wortman – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
6. Cecelia Wigal – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
7. Dana Price – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2022 SCAR veteran
8. David McGlynn
9. Edie Markovich – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2021 SCAR veteran
10. Emily Lane – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
11. Eric Durban – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2022 SCAR veteran
12. Eric Kinney
13. Erica Esterly – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
14. Erika Gliebe
15. Gina Harden – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2021 SCAR veteran
16. Grabiela Rojas Molina
17. Heather Fairbanks – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
18. James McDonald – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
19. Jamie Tout – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2016, 2018, 2021 SCAR veteran
20. Janelle Westfall
21. Janet Craig – 2023 SCR veteran
22. Jay Eckert
23. Jennifer Dutton – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2019, 2023 SCAR veteran
24. Jennifer Irwin
25. Jennifer Murphy
26. Jennifer Whitlock – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
27. John Collins
28. Julia Ver Voort
29. Kerston Corns
30. Kristiana E Fox – 2023 SCAR veteran
31. Lars Durban – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2022 SCAR veteran
32. Laura Ruberto
33. Lorelei Schmidt – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
34. Mackenzie Thomas
35. Madison Carioty
36. Malena Hankins – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
37. Marnie Whitley – 2021, 2022 SCAR veteran
38. Mary Singer – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
39. Marysue Balazic – 2023 SCAR veteran
40. Melissa Housmyer – 2023 SCAR veteran
41. Michelle Squyer – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2019 and 2020 SCAR veteran
42. Mike Gregory – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – Triple Crown veteran
43. Mike Healey – 2022, 2023 SCAR veteran
44. Nikko Price – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
45. Paul Valitutto – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
46. Peter Hayden – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 SCAR veteran
47. Rob Forst – 2022, 2023 SCAR veteran
48. Robin Batchelor – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
49. Sara Stevenson
50. Sara Wolf – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
51. Shelley Stewart – see MSF marathon swimming resume here
52. Sophia Bouhaddou
53. Stefan Reinke – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023 SCAR vetera
54. Steven Sherry – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2023 SCAR veteran
55. Taylor Stallings-Pinnick – 2023 SCAR veteran
56. Terri Dietz
57. Tom Linthicum – see MSF marathon swimming resume here – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021 SCAR veteran
58. William Polson
59. Steve Moby Leitch – see MSF marathon swimming resume here

For more information, visit www.scarswim.com. For additional photos and information, visit Facebook here.

MSF = Marathon Swimmers Federation (see here).

© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline”