Record field set for Skaha Lake Ultra Swim
The largest field ever will hit the water Sunday morning for the Skaha Lake Ultra Swim.
One-hundred athletes will take part in the 11.8 open water swim from Skaha Lake Beach in Penticton to Christie Beach in Okanagan Falls.
The event starts at 7 a.m. with the first finishers expected to arrive just after 9:30 a.m.
The Ultra Swim was resurrected last year after a 13-year absence as part of the Penticton Peach Festival slate of activities and attracted the thenbiggest field in its history with 83 athletes starting the race (and 82 finishing).
Race director Shelie Best said the 2018 event sold out within a month of registration opening in February.
“We had 25 people on a waiting list but, as it turned out, they were all able to get in when others were forced to drop out due to injuries or other commitments,” said Best.
Last year’s race saw a pair of teenage girls finish one-two, with 16-year-old Chantel Jeffrey of Salmon Arm winning in 2:35:03 and 17-year-old Haley Berrisford placing second in 2:50:55. Jeffrey set the women’s 14-19 age group record.
Now a year older, both Jeffrey and Berrisford are again competing in this year’s Ultra Swim.
Standout Penticton triathlete Jen Annett is also registered.
Also taking part is Australian Glen Prior, a popular long-time Ironman triathlete who has spent plenty of time in Penticton over the years. Prior is competing in the 50-59 age group.
Best also said Daniel Weiss is coming all the way from Tel Aviv to compete in the Ultra Swim.
“He’s coming here with his family and making a holiday out of it,” said Best, noting the Peach Festival is an attraction for many out-of-town participants.
Last year’s race saw four age group records set, including a remarkable fourth for K.C. Emerson, this time in the women’s 50-59 category. Emerson, who holds the women’s overall course record of 2:30:04 set in 1991 and has won the women’s race five times, is not registered this year.
Four-time champion Serge Score holds the men’s course record of 2:21:44 set in 1997 but will not be competing Sunday.
Athletes have 6.5 hours to successfully complete the race.
Best said this year the Ultra Swim is partnering with the Kidney Foundation. Already, $1,000 has been raised through the Ultra Swim registrations.
Best said Kidney Foundation representatives will be stationed at the start and finish lines of the race. Anyone considering an organ donation can get further information from the reps.