Courtesy of Andy Neumann, Islamorada, Florida Keys.
350 swimmers competed in calm, clear waters off the Florida Keys during the 8-mile Swim for Alligator Lighthouse.
31-year-old Yoelvis Pedraza emerged from the Atlantic Ocean as the top individual swimmer in 2 hours 55 minutes. 29-year-old Chelsea Nauta from Riverview, Florida was second overall, winning the female division in 3 hours 4 minutes.
Tampa residents Pam Owens and Connor Signorin finished with the fastest two-person relay in 3 hours 28 minutes.
Danielle Chance, Melissa Varlas, Laura Hamel and Rick Walker won the 4-person mixed relay in 3 hours 33 minutes.
The athletes swam to Alligator Reef Lighthouse off Islamorada, rounded the beacon, and swam back to the start at Amara Cay Resort. The annual event, conceived to raise awareness of preserving the 145-year-old Alligator Reef Lighthouse and five other aging lighthouses off the Florida Keys, raises college scholarship funds for Keys students interested in competitive swimming.
Top 25 Results:
1. Yoelvis Pedraza (31) 2:55:36.2
2. Chelsea Nauta (29) 3:04:21.9 [first woman]
3. Roanoke Shirk (16) 3:23:28.9
4. Craig Travers (55) 3:27:11.3
5. Michael Wendt (56) 3:29:04.4
6. Alison Hayden (46) 3:29:47.0 [second woman]
7. Leigh Rey (41) 3:36:44.0 [third woman]
8. David Zubero (59) 3:36:53.3
9. Tim Snow (42) 3:39:15.2
10. Brian Shea (42) 3:40:21.8
11. Michael Guirl (54) 3:40:36.9
12. Charlotte Brynn (52) 3:40:40.0 [fourth woman]
13. Natalie Rochette (25) :42:09.2 [fifth woman]
14. David Brancamp (56) 3:43:40.7
15. Heather Roka (32) 3:46:47.9 [sixth woman]
16. Serbo Simeoni (53) 3:50:11.1
17. Matthew Sabo (49) 3:53:49.7
18. Trey Seibold (50) 4:01:31.7
19. Sarah Kwon (28) 4:04:47.7 [seventh woman]
20. Anthony Dotson (49) 4:06:14.0
21. Eric Price (51) 4:08:24.0
22. Brittany Wetnight (30) 4:09:42.2 [eighth woman]
23. Marissa McAuliffe (24) 4:12:02.8 [ninth woman]
24. Scott Sutton (54) 4:13:08.2
25. Rob Coltman (47) 4:15:15.6
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