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St. Croix Coral Reef Swim Race for 2013

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Updated 1/15/2013
18th Annual Coral Reef Swim Sunday, October 13, 2013 Headquartered at the legendary Buccaneer resort YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE NOW
2012 Race Results and Finish Line photos
	Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI (October 15, 2012)  ---   Tropical Storm Rafael could not dampen the spirits of over 150 swimmers participating in the 17th Annual Coral Reef swim from taking place on Sunday, October 14th on St. Croix, USVI. The race-record count of swimmers from around the world made their way along the North East shore of St. Croix to the finish line at The Buccaneer hotel. Alex Kostich of Los Angeles, former member of the U.S. National Team, finished the race first with London Olympic athlete and St. Croix Native, Brandon Whitehurst, in second. The top female swimmer was Fernette Ramnath of North Port, Florida followed by Leslie Butts from San Antonio, Texas in second. The two mile winner was Kieran Locke, St. Croix native residing in Pompano Beach, Florida with Misty Hyman, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, of Phoenix, Arizona leading the female two mile swimmers. The one mile race was won by St. Croix native Catherine Milton followed by Christopher Kontos of Durham, North Carolina in second. Race activities began Saturday morning with a complimentary mini-clinic for new open water swimmers hosted by Kostich and Hyman. Hyman also participated in the two mile swim from Pull Point. Other race events included a cocktail party at The Buccaneer's historic Sugar Mill with live steel pan music and Mocko Jumbie cultural stilt dancers. Although there were many exciting events all weekend, there was nothing better than the thrill swimmers felt as they ran up the sand towards the palm frond arch at the finish line with the sounds of steel pan and family and friends cheering in the background. The race featured swimmers of all ages and abilities including first time open water swimmers, including several whom have never swum in the ocean before. Trinity University continued their tradition of bringing senior swimmers to compete in the race. The Sarasota Sharks Master swimmers made their first trip to the Coral Reef Swim and took home several trophies. Members of the Durham Academy high school swim team also made an appearance at the event along with several local swimmers from the St. Croix Dolphins Swim Team. Many swimmers make the trip to the race an annual family vacation and return again for the weekend of activities and the beautiful surroundings. This proved true again this year with the DeGot family who made the swim a three generation race as 17 year return swimmer Stephen DeGot brought his daughter and granddaughter to participate. Race weekend ended with the awards ceremony at The Terrace Restaurant at The Buccaneer hotel where winners received awards custom-made by local glass artist, Jan Mitchell and adult prizes of several varieties of local Cruzan Rum. Next year's Coral Reef swim will be held on Columbus Day Weekend, October 13, 2013. All proceeds from the race are donated to The Nature Conservatory to benefit the East End Marine Park coral research. The Coral Swim Race is one of many highly regarded athletic competitions hosted by St. Croix Sports. Other races held include triathlons in three distances, including the Ironman 70.3, a half marathon and the St. Croix Scenic 50 mile run. For more information on the Coral Reef swim and other St. Croix sporting events, visit www.swimrace.com and www.stcroixsports.com. Suzanne and the entire Coral Reef Committee coralreefswim@hotmail.com 253-241-4827 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. Aerial View of Buck Island

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