April 20, 2013 11:01 pm Eastern Time
For Immediate Release
SOURCE: Distance Matters, Inc.
Chelsea Nauta Claims Victory On A Challenging Day At The Tampa Bay Marathon Swim
Six Swimmers out of a Field of Eighteen Starters Battle Wind and Waves to Complete a 24 Mile Swim of the Length of Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay, Florida -
Tampa native Chelsea Nauta was able to fight through swells and a strong headwind to become the Overall Champion at the 16th Annual Tampa Bay Marathon Swim. The three-time FHSAA Swimmer of the Year and USA National Team member was able to finish the swim in 10 hours, 7 minutes to hold off Olympian Brooke Bennett who finished only 4 minutes later.
The Men's Champion was Chris Burke, 51 of St. Petersburg, FL, who completed the course in 12 hours, 16 minutes. He was able to out-duel his friend and training partner, Dr. Mark Smitherman of Clearwater, FL who came to the finish line in 12 hours, 33 minutes. One relay team of six swimmers turned in the quickest time of the day, posting a time of 10 hours, 2 minutes. Starting at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and ending on the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Tampa, the race was held on Saturday, April 20th in celebration of Earth Day and the revitalization of Florida's largest estuary.
Official Results
10 hours, 7 minutes - Chelsea Nauta, 24F, Brandon, FL
10 hours, 11 minutes - Brooke Bennett, 32F, Clearwater, FL
12 hours, 16 minutes - Chris Burke, 51M, St. Petersburg, FL
12 hours, 33 minutes - Mark Smitherman, 55M, Clearwater, FL
13 hours, 37 minutes - Sergio Salamone, 45M, Buenos Aires, Argentina
14 hours, 37 minutes - Ann von Spiegelfeld, 51F, Tampa, FL
10 hours, 2 minutes - NC State of Mind Relay Team
Patrick Woodruff, 29M, Durham, NC
Kelly Woodruff, 27F, San Diego, CA
Mary Robbins, 28F, Durham, NC
Greg Sanchez, 55M, Cary, NC
Jack Roney, 25M, Fuquay-Varina, NC
Sarah Sanchez, 15F, Cary, NC
Since this event was first staged in 1998, it has drawn competitors from across the United States, Great Britain, Guatemala, Italy, Australia, Japan, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Germany, India, Canada, and the Cayman Islands.
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Tweets by @DistanceMattersHere are the 18 solo swimmers, and 3 relay teams that entered the event:
Brooke Bennett, 32F, Clearwater, FL : Hear her 4/18 Radio Interview
Chris Burke, 51M, St. Petersburg, FL
Chelsea Nauta, 24F, Brandon, FL
Mark Smitherman, 55M, Clearwater, FL
Gene Kennedy, 53M, Charlotte, NC
Sergio Salamone, 45M, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lori King, 37F, Rockville Centre, NY
Carl Selles, 66M, Aurora, CO
Dan Richards, 56M, Arlington, TN
Thomas Bell, 44M, Wyomissing, PA
Yuta Tsuboi, 40M, New York, NY
Thomas Tarantola, 18M, Flagler Beach, FL
Pat Marzulli, 64M, Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Bethany Bosch, 28F, Wallingford, VT
Ann von Spiegelfeld, 51F, Tampa, FL
Hadar Aviram, 38F, San Francisco, CA
Arnie Bellini, 53M, Tampa, FL
Michael Miller, 53M, Charlotte, NC
NC State of Mind - Relay
Patrick Woodruff, 29M, Durham, NC
Kelly Woodruff, 27F, San Diego, CA
Mary Robbins, 28F, Durham, NC
Greg Sanchez, 55M, Cary, NC
Jack Roney, 25M, Fuquay-Varina, NC
Sarah Sanchez, 15F, Cary, NC
The Dirty Half Dozen - Relay
Patty Hermann, 53F, Houston, TX
Kimberly Hermann, 23F, Houston, TX
Ted Gregory, 75M, Camp Hill, PA
Mike Tyson, 46M, Alexandria, VA
Richard Schoenborn, 55M, Palm City, FL
Kelly Gentry, 26F, Livermore, CA
Aqua Fury - Relay
Erin O'Leary, 31F, Jacksonville, FL
Brian Lanahan, 37M, Charleston, SC
Lesley Fanning, 44F, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Tampa Bay Marathon Swim Records
7:41 - Chris Derks, 2002 (Overall & Men's Record)
7:51 - Penny Palfrey, 2008 (Women's Record)
15:10 - Flavia Zappa, 2011 (Swam the Longest)
9:52 - Ron Collins, 1998 (First Swimmer)
8:34 - Gail Rice, 1998 (First Woman)
8:03 - North Baltimore Aquatic Club (Fastest Relay 3)
13:09 - Dr. Konrad Euler (Oldest Swimmer 66)
"When Grant Hackett and Ous Mellouli entered the global community of open water swimming, it created a quite a stir," said Steven Munatones, founder of the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA). "The participation of these Olympic gold medalists highlight the increasing athleticism at the elite levels of our sport. Year by year, the level of intensity in long distance training and the speed at which the elite athletes race are increasing. This improvement in speed, stamina and strength is seen at all levels of the sport."
Steven Munatones added, "Now Brooke Bennett is training hard and showing her former speed that brought her 14 national titles and 3 Olympic gold medals. Brooke is demonstrating the similar confidence of her illustrious past by entering this year's Tampa Bay Marathon Swim. Her willingness to push through 24 miles swimming the length of Tampa Bay shows a degree of seriousness that will serve notice at the elite echelon of marathon swimmers. It is great to see Brooke healthy and unhampered as she was towards the end of her pool career by shoulder problems. Other 30-year-olds have proven themselves capable of being competitive and I am sure Brooke will be too."
Far away from the tides of the English Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar, removed from the ocean swells of the Molokai Channel and Catalina Channel, distant from the cold water of the Cook Strait and North Channel, different from Windermere and Zurich, the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim still remains a challenge for intrepid marathon swimmers.
The Tampa Bay Marathon Swim has been recognized as one of the 30 "World Swimming Majors" and the race is now a fixture on the world's ultra-marathon swimming circuit. "The swim can be rough and tough, foggy and warm, where the unexpected can be expected," described Steven Munatones. "The World Open Water Swimming Association wishes the swimmers and the race organization best wishes for a successful 2013 edition."
Recent Photos
For more information, contact: The Tampa Bay Marathon Swim Distance Matters, Inc. Ron Collins, Race Director PO Box 18004 Clearwater, FL 33762-9998 727.531.7999 | www.DistanceMatters.com Email: Collins@tampabay.rr.com |
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