St Croix Coral Reef Swim Race, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Updated 1/5/2010

The 14th Annual St. Croix, Virgin Islands Coral Reef Swim
Welcomes Olympic Gold

Aerial View
Buck Island >

ALEX KOSTICH WINS THE 14th ANNUAL ST CROIX CORAL REEF SWIM FOR 10th TIME

2009 Race Results and Finish Line photos

St. Croix, USVI (October 19, 2009) --- Alex Kostich returned to St Croix for his 10th win of the annual Buck Island to The Buccaneer Five Mile Swim, now in its 14th year. Competing with 116 swimmers from all over the globe, Kostich completed the course in a time of 1 hour, 43 minutes, 44 seconds, just six minutes off of his own course record. The Californian remarked, "The conditions were mixed; the seas were choppy but we got a great push from a fast moving current. This swim is definitely one of my favorites of the year, and one of the most beautiful swims on the planet. It's great to see so many friends I have made here over the years."

Second place winner was St Croix's 15-year-old Bryson Mayes (1.54.38), followed by Texan Seth Huston (2:03.57). The womens winners were Rene Ulrich (Texas, 2:07.03), Valerie Adams (Wisconsin 2:07.50), and Meredith Jones (Pennsylvania 2:20.45). Swimmers ranged in age from 13 to 75 years old. The scenic course allowed sightings of turtles, spotted eagle rays, and other assorted sea life. Swimmers completing the race were met at The Buccaneer's Mermaid Beach with cheers from hundreds of supporters and live steel pan music.

In its second year, the Coral Reef Two-Mile Swim from Pull Point to The Buccaneer attracted 41 competitors. Michael Ebuna from Georgia was the winner with a time of 1:00.25, followed by local Dolphin Swim Team swimmers Caylee Watson (1:01.47) and Evan Warehime (1:03.30).

Olympic Gold Medalist Misty Hyman provided a pre-race open water swim clinic and mingled with swimmers at a pre-race party at The Buccaneer on Saturday. The Olympian also presented Crucian bracelets, provided by Nelthropp and Low Fine Jewelry, as well as Cruzan Rum to the winners at the post race awards luncheon.

The annual event is supported by a myriad of safety volunteers, from St. Croix Rescue and Emergency Medical Services to volunteers in kayaks, on jet skis and aboard safety boats. Caribbean Sea Adventures and Teroro Buck Island Charters provided transport to the start at Buck Island for the swimmers, and volunteer safety divers were present at the start of the Buck Island swim.

The Coral Reef Swim is a fundraiser for the Nature Conservancy's East End Marine Park, and is supported by Coca Cola, Bellows International, Hovensa, St. Croix Yacht Club, Seventh Day Adventist School Kayak Team, Caribbean Sea Adventures, Nelthropp & Low, Cruzan Rum, Stamina Sports, and Teroro Buck Island Charters.

The 2010 15th Annual Coral Reef Swims will be held over the Columbus Day weekend, with race day Oct 10, 2010.

Contact: coralreefswim@hotmail.com

Can't get enough of St. Croix?

Join athletes from around the world for various events on St Croix including the Caribbean Classic Triathlon, an Olympic distance triathlon consisting of a 1500 meter swim, 40K bike and 10K run. Visit StCroixSports.com for more information on this race as well as many fantastic others.

East End Marine Park

East End Marine Park, the first territorial park in the U.S. Virgin Islands, will protect the largest island barrier reef system in the Caribbean. Legislative approval recently made the area an official park. Extending from the high-water mark out three miles (4.8 kilometers), it encompasses 60 square miles (155.4 square kilometers) of offshore coral reef and other marine habitat.

The park includes about five square miles (13 square kilometers) of "no-take areas," which are off limits to any fishing and harvesting. A turtle refuge will extend about a mile (1.6 kilometers) into the Caribbean Ocean from the shoreline of the island's primary hawksbill and green turtle nesting beaches on Jack Bay, Isaac Bay and East End Bay.

Location
The appropriately-named park encompasses the last six miles (10 kilometers) of the eastern end of St. Croix. It includes about 12 miles (20 kilometers) of coastline.

For more information visit East End Marine Park.

HomeSt. Croix 2 & 5-Mile Coral Reef Swim Race 2010

Coral Reef Swim Race, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

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St. Croix 2 & 5-Mile Coral Reef Swim Race 2010