First-ever Garfield Bay open water swim a hit

SANDPOINT — Perfect conditions, a near photo finish and a beautiful setting made the first-ever Garfield Bay Firecracker Mile Open Water Swim a big success on Sunday in Sandpoint.

There were only 15 swimmers pre-registered for the event, but 38 showed up on the morning of the race as more than 50 swimmers of all ages hit the water to swim a one-mile loop that started and ended in the picturesque bay. Every racer finished, with the last leaving the 70 degree water at 1:05.

Spokane’s Don Moravec, 52, raced neck and neck with 14-year-old Medical Lake girl Sakaiya McCoy, with Moravec finishing in 21 minutes and 45 seconds, just eight seconds ahead of McCoy.

Race director Donna Gaudet wished to thank all of the volunteers, sponsors, sheriff and Coast Guard Auxiliary for making the race run so smoothly. She said she was most impressed with the response of the community to the event.

“I was just floored that 38 people decided, some of them the night before the event, that they were going to head down to Garfield Bay and jump in for a one-mile swim,” said Gaudet, a swimming enthusiast who has been part of many adventure swims on Lake Pend Oreille. “I am so impressed with our swimmers here in the Northwest. They are an adventurous bunch and I appreciate their energy and support.”

Gaudet says plans are underway for another great race next year around the same time. One of the highlights for Gaudet was watching how a network of volunteers, mostly kayakers, emerged to help put on the event.

“The biggest highlight was the age difference between the swimmers that received first and second place,” described Gaudet of the 38 year gap. “Events like this show that competitive swimming really is a lifelong activity.”

n TOP 25 FINISHERS

1, Don Moravec, 21:45.

2, Sakaiya McCoy, 21:53.

3, Georgia Steenberge, 22:54.

4, Michael McGeehan, 24:41.

5, Mike Stevens, 25:34.

6, Doug Lieuallen, 25:36.

7, Ryan Driscoll, 26:00.

8, Keith Hertell, 26:49.

9, Daniel Driscoll, 27:48.

10, Kate Matlosz, 27:59.

11, Dave Mann, 28:18.

12, James Barron, 28:27.

13, Jim Zuberbuhler, 28:50.

14, Meleah McNair, 29:29.

15, Lynn DiBenedetto, 29:48.

16, Jane Davis, 29:52.

17, Miles Luce, 30:13.

18, Asaph Cousins, 20:45.

19, Anna McGeehan, 31:11.

20, Eric Ridgway, 31:13.

21, Lynne Urfer, 31:18.

22, Beth DiBenedetto, 31:23.

23, Steve McGeehan, 32:08.

24, Catherine Brenner, 32:52.

25, Greg Lang, 33:18.