Day Three of the SCAR Swim Challenge, the 4-day stage swim in the desert backcountry of Arizona, is always the Big Unknown. Conditions on Apache Lake can be brutal – or absolutely lovely – or a mixture of the two extremes – over the 22.8 km distance from dam to dam.

Event visionary Kent Nicholas said, “Apache took a whooping today because 26 swimmers [of the 32 starters] took it down. There was a mild push at the start; the water temperature was perfect. The air temperature was warm and pleasant. The winds gusted 10-12 mph range but not for long. If living well means experiencing awe – we were living pretty good today.”

But for six swimmers, Apache took its toll.

Stefan Reinke who trains in Honolulu and never has the opportunity to swim in 52°F (11°C) water that was present at the start, simply said, “[I had an] early DNF. Cold – 1 , Stefan – 0.”

Corey Murphey (34, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio) moved into the overall lead, escorted by her mother Jill Murphey with a solid sub-6 hour crossing as previous leader Ildiko Szekely (45, Hungary, @swimplifly) lasted 6 km before as she could not shake the cold. Susan McKay of Canada also had a solid third leg with a 5 hour 58 minute crossing, just behind the Third Stage winner Andy Rieger of Texas in 5 hours 54 minutes.

Murphey will attempt her first major solo channel crossing of the Catalina Channel this coming July…so the start in 11°C was a nice challenge for a totally different kind of marathon swim come July.

Tomorrow, the field from the USA, Hungary, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Great Britain, Ecuador, France, and Columbia finish the 4-day adventure with a 10 km triangular course across Roosevelt Lake under the pitch darkness of the evening.

2025 SCAR – Apache Lake, Day Three Results

1. Andy Rieger (52, USA) 5:54:02.1
2. Susan McKay (46, Canada, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 5:58:08.2
3. Corey Murphey (34, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio) 5:59:42.8
4. Jorge Agudelo (33, Columbia) 6:01:44.2
5. Haley Chasin (27, USA, @chasin1997) 6:24:55.8
6. Ryan Stille (52, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 6:43:36.0
7. Amanda Davies (44, Australia) 6:57:29.4
8. Golda Marcus (42, El Salvador) 7:03:53.4
9. Maggie Regan (33, USA) 7:16:22.7
10. Karen Nixon (58, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 7:27:12.2
11. Tara Grout (53, Australia, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 7:55:25.0
12. Amy Ennion (32, UK, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 8:02:31.5
13. Isaac Vernon (24, USA, @themakomethod) 8:06:26.9
14. Mike Gregory (61, Australia, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 8:09:30.5
15. Peter Hayden (67, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 8:11:14.2
16. Jennifer Murphy (49, USA) 8:15:19.2
17. Alain Simac (43, France, @alainsimac, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 8:38:26.2
18. Dave Berry (50, Ireland, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 8:41:21.1
19. Brianna Jackson (41, Arizona) 8:49:00.5
20. Natalie Merrow (44, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 8:53:44.7
21. Sara Palacios (39, Ecuador, @sarademar7mares, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 8:58:41.8
22. Christina MacDougall (46, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 9:11:23.1
23. Matthew Szachta (45, USA) 9:14:50.3
24. Amy Mazur (62, USA, @amygmazur) 9:20:51.8
25. Kristiana Fox (46, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 9:35:10.3
26. Sara Wolf (56, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 10:19:57.5
27. Ildiko Szekely (45, Hungary, @swimplifly) DNF
28. Julie Boxsell (54, Australia, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) DNF
29. Lauren Byron (49, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) DNF
30. Madison Carioty (29, USA) DNF
31. Stefan Reinke (66, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) DNF
32. Mike Healey (72, USA) DNF

For more information, visit www.scarswim.com.

Steven Munatones described the event, “SCAR, set in the dry, rugged American southwest desert of Arizona, is no longer under the radar. The secret has long been out about the out-of-the-way 4-day stage swim that focuses on camaraderie rather than competition, passion rather than pressure. Swimmers from around the world have discovered the joy and challenge of swimming across wind-whipped lakes where flexibility and recovery play just as important elements as do feeds and navigation. Set along four majestic reservoirs on the Salt River amid the desert wild, Kent has organized an incredible adventure that started out as a rogue swim by locals. SCAR is a physical test and a psychological challenge that remains tough, but is made easier by the other participants.“

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