Ildiko Szekely (45, Hungary, @swimplifly) entered her first major marathon swim – and won Day One of the SCAR Swim Challenge, a 4-day stage swim in the desert backcountry of Arizona. But after the race, she admitted, “Have to say, that one hurt.”

Eric Durban, the escort kayaker for eighth place Stefan Reinke from Honolulu, said “Ildy [Szekely] looked strong and steady [as she passed us].“

34-year-old Corey Murphey. of Colorado finished 6 minutes behind Szekely while the fastest women took seven of the top 10 places across the 13.3 km course in Saguaro Lake on Day One where the water temperature ranged from 20° – 23°C (68° – 73°F).

Tomorrow, the field of 41 swimmers from the USA, Hungary, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Great Britain, Ecuador, France, and Columbia take to the 14.1 km course across majestic Canyon Lake on Day Two. Friday is a long 22.8 km traverse across Apache Lake on Day Three while Saturday culminates with 10 km triangular course under the stars at night in Roosevelt Lake.

The brainchild of Arizona attorney Kent Nicholas, the extreme adventure race is one of the World’s Top 100 Open Water Swims and part of the Triple Crown of Stage Swims, where the top women look to dominate the 2025 edition.

Nicholas wrote, “100% of the field finished. There were a lot of smiles and new international swim friendships in the works. I am really pleased with this year’s group of swimmers.”

2025 SCAR – Saguaro Lake, Day One

1. Ildiko Szekely (45, Hungary, @swimplifly) 3:09:14.0
2. Corey Murphey (34, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio) 3:15:48.9
3. Susan McKay (46, Canada, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 3:18:19.2
4. Brianna Jackson (41, Ireland, IISA bio here) 3:20.22.5
5. Jorge Agudelo (33, Columbia) 3:25:12.0
6. Haley Chasin (27, USA, @chasin1997) 3:33:39.7
7. Maggie Regan (33, USA) 3:34:51.8
8. Stefan Reinke (66, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 3:38.51.4
9. Ryan Stille (52, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 3:39:14.1
10. Karen Nixon (58, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 3:41:21.9
11. Emily Evans (48, USA: Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here)) 3:51:14.3
12. Amanda Davies (44, Australia) 3:52:22.4
13. Mark Spratt (69, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 3:58:17.4
14. Dave Berry (50, Ireland, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:00:10.2
15. Rob Forst (54, USA) 4:01:50.5
16. Felicia A Bianchi (62, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:02:10.9
17. Amy Frick (58, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:02:12.2
18. Juliet Kadlecek (55, USA, @julietkad, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 4:03:16.0
19. Erika Beauchamp (51, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:03:39.8
20. Mike Gregory (61, Australia, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:05:29.6
21. Lauren Byron (49, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:12:43.5
22. Peter Hayden (67, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:15:07.1
23. Heather Fairbanks (56, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:15:19.7
24. Isaac Vernon (24, USA, @themakomethod) 4:18.14.8
25. Natalie Merrow (44, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:18:14.8
26. Madison Carioty (29, USA) 4:21:10.0
27. Jennifer Murphy (49, USA) 4:21:47.7
28. Tara Grout (53, Australia, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:22:04.8
29. Amy Ennion (32, UK, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:22:58.7
30. Jamie Tout (71, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:24:14.1
31. Chaz Moody (40, USA) 4:31:15.1
32. Sara Palacios (39, Ecuador, @sarademar7mares, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 4:31:48.2
33. Dana Price (53, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio) 4:35:38.2
34. Amy Mazur (62, USA, @amygmazur) 4:40:59.4
35. Alain Simac (43, France, @alainsimac, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 4:51:09.7
36. Christina MacDougall (46, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:55:55.6
37. Kristiana Fox (46, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:57:49.6
38. Julie Boxsell (54, Australia, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 4:58:45.1
39. Sara Wolf (56, USA, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here) 5:04:46.7
40. Jason Heavens (61, Canada) 5:18:07.0
41. Claire Russell (63, UK, Marathon Swimmers Federation bio here, IISA bio here) 5:24:16.8

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.“

© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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