Michael Rice, Catherine Breed Win Day 1 on Saguaro at the SCAR Swim

Michael Rice, Catherine Breed Win Day 1 on Saguaro at the SCAR Swim

Steven Munatones 04/26/2023 open water swimming No Comment

Kent Nicholas could not be happier with today’s conditions on Saguaro Lake on Day 1 of the 4-day stage swim, SCAR Swim Challenge in Arizona.

He wrote, “If we could dial in a perfect day at Saguaro, this was it. From water temp to air temp to low wind – it was good day to be at S. Michael Rice proving to be a champion with several on his heels. Catherine Breed leading the females and showing the strength she has inside. Shout out to 70-year-old Michael Healy who came in at 4:59.44. One word – stud.”

Not only did Rice win Day 1 in 2 hours 47 minutes, but he also broke the legendary Saguaro Lake crossing record held by Grace van der Byl. Her 2 hour 50 minute record had stood for a decade.

But Day 1 did not start out ideally. When Nicholas and his volunteer crew arrived at the lake, over 40 kayaks were gone. They were nowhere to be found. As planned, the kayaks were staged in the parking lot near the start near the water’s edge. But overnight Murphy’s Law reigned.

Water was released from the dam and the lake level rose, jarring the kayaks from their moorings. The kayaks and paddles floated into the rising dam and spread out all over the place. It took the crew great efforts and significant time to find all the kayaks and get them restaged for the kayakers.

But the volunteers, swimmers, and support teams took the unexpected, but temporary, loss of kayaks in stride. The crew worked together and the swimmers waited patiently in the limited shade for the delayed start.

Saguaro Lake Results

  1. Michael Rice (38) 2:47:39.7
  2. Catherine Breed (30) 2:53:39.1
  3. Steven Munatones (60) 2:58:46.5
  4. Karen Zemlin (55) 3:13:24.1
  5. Lura Wilhelm (41) 3:16:01.4
  6. Chris Cook (42) 3:19:07.3
  7. Steven Sherry (56) 3:25:30.1
  8. Stefan Reinke (64) 3:29:27.7
  9. William Shipp (63) 3:35:16.5
  10. Anna Delozier (59) 3:37:07.5
  11. Cornelia Bleul-Gohlke (57) 3:38:58.0
  12. Anna Zuccolotto Soto (37) 3:43:54.0
  13. Mike Peters (29) 3:44:23.0
  14. Charlotte Brynn (57) 3:46:27.9
  15. Abigail Bergman (27) 3:51:24.8
  16. Kerianne Brownlie (29) 3:53:10.3
  17. Rod Watkins (62) 3:53:44.4
  18. Erika Beauchamp (49) 3:53:49.7
  19. Rijl Barber (42) 3:55:26.1
  20. Patti Bauernfeind McMurdie (56) 3:57:08.0
  21. Shannon Keegan (48) 3:58:13.6
  22. Haiden Freeman (23) 3:59:15.3
  23. Mark Spratt (67) 3:59:41.2
  24. Jenny Smith (49) 4:04:51.7
  25. Sofia Cardenas (34) 4:05:04.2
  26. Kate Mason (64) 4:08:49.6
  27. Peter Hayden (65) 4:13:08.0
  28. Susie Paul (50) 4:21:57.3
  29. Jared Kenney (36) 4:21:58.4
  30. Jennifer Dutton (54) 4:25:08.3
  31. Justine Brousseau (44) 4:25:31.7
  32. Steve Sutton (56) 4:25:39.3
  33. Sophie Ryan (45) 4:25:40.6
  34. Fionnuala Walsh (49) 4:39:57.4
  35. Sue-Ellen Booher (69) 4:40:12.1
  36. Paula Yankauskas (68) 4:44:15.4
  37. Claire Russell (61) 4:44:31.7
  38. Mike Healey (70) 4:59:44.2
  39. Kristiana Fox (44) 5:14:46.4
  40. Elizabeth Huesing (61) 5:21:48.0
  41. Joe Zemaitis (43) 10:00:00.0 (two-way crossing)
  42. James McDonald, DNF
  43. Jessica Kennedy, DNF
  44. Lauren Byron, DNF
  45. Melanie Tyrell, DNF
  46. Dana Price, DNF

For the latest updates on the 4-day stage swim, visit the SCAR Facebook page here.

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