Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Visionaries continue to move things in the State of Oregon in the American Northwest.

Portland Bridges Swim founder and director Marisa Frieder described the efforts of the 80 solo and relay swimmers who participated in the Portland Bridge Swim held on July 11th where the 10.7-mile (17.2 km) event passes under the 11 bridges on the Willamette River within the city of Portland. “Swimming in the Willamette River is kind of live-changing.

Swimmers can feel [the changes] and see it and experience the city from a new angle.“

Combined with the vision of Bob Bruce, the Portland Bridge Swim will be part of a trifecta of national open water swimming competitions to be held in Oregon in 2018. Tim Waud explains, “Oregon Masters Swimming will host 3 Open Water Swimming National Championships during 2018 – or a Oregon Swimcation where adults can participate in the 2018 Portland Bridge Swim serving as the 9+ mile United States Masters Swimming Open Water National Championships on July 8th. Then, they can participate in the 2-mile United States Masters Swimming Open Water National Championships in Foster Lake or the Foster Lake Cable Swims on July 12th. Then finish with the 10 km swim at the Applegate Lake Open Water Weekend on July 14th. .”

So from 2 miles to 17 km in lakes and rivers, swimmers will be able to compete against others their same age.

“Next year’s Portland Bridge Swim will be on July 9th 2017; it is a rare marathon swim through an urban environment.” The race keeps growing. “It was founded in 2011 with 16 swimmers and has now grown to 80 swimmers racing through the heart of downtown Portland [see results below].”

Men Non-Wetsuit Results:
1 4:16 Adam Arzner
2 4:20 Dean Atchison
3 4:38 Mark Monticino
4 4:38 Steven Villafana
5 4:49 Ishmael Johnson
6 5:05 Randy McClary
7 5:11 Peter Kim
8 5:14 Ken Fetters
9 5:16 Brian Jacoby
10 5:17 John Liedtke
11 5:21 Brian Noble
12 5:21 Michael Miller
13 5:22 Hubert Chaperon
14 5:28 Jack Van Coevering
15 5:30 Andy Hewitt
16 5:34 Daemon Anastas
17 6:39 Stephen Kim
DNF Cliff Cottam

Women Non-Wetsuit Results:
1 4:23 Mattie Fowler
2 4:24 Laurie Bauder
3 4:28 Stephanie Wahab
4 4:30 Michelle McRae
5 4:39 Jessic Kieras
6 4:47 Emily Schmitt
7 4:47 Mackenzie Miller
8 4:55 Sue Free
9 5:03 Ali Hall
10 5:13 Sarah Mitich
11 5:21 Elyssa Kelly
12 5:24 Hana Gosney
13 5:56 Anne Heiner
14 5:57 Sydney Brisco
15 5:59 Danielle Antonetti
16 6:01 Kacie Wise
17 6:18 Tiffany McQueen
18 6:41 Sarah Taft
DNF Elizabeth Harrison
DNF Felicia Cantu

Wetsuit Results:
1 4:33 Michael Wheeler
2 4:51 Brad Herner
3 5:16 Meghan Meinerz
DNF Michelle Brugger

Relay Results [with captain listed]:
1 3:58 Chad Hagedorn
2 4:14 Holly Vaughn-Edmonds
2 4:14 Lisa Gibson
3 4:19 Ben Karlin
4 4:25 Kelsey O’Banion
5 4:51 Michael Porter
6 4:54 Danielle Cass
7 5:17 Katy Smith
8 5:20 Carol Grisso
9 5:40 David Poulshock
10 5:46 Charles Kralovec
11 5:48 Katarina Ferber
12 5:50 Anne Cooper
13 5:59 Guila Muir
14 6:08 Jennifer Mercede

For more information, visit www.portlandbridgeswim.com or contact the organizers at portlandbridgeswim@gmail.com.

Photo above shows race founder Marisa Frieder and volunteer Tim Waud.

Photo below by Randy Rasmussen shows Emily Melina, winner of the 2011 Portland Bridge Swim.

Copyright © 2016 by World Open Water Swimming Association