UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS
Posted online: Sunday, 23 June 2002
New York, N.Y., June 23, 2002 -- Emily Watts, a 34-year old mother and accomplished open-water swimmer from Manchester, Maryland, today won the 21st annual Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. Watts took the lead early and never relinquished it, completing the course in seven hours, forty-six minutes, ten seconds (7:46:10). Her name will be engraved on the Gallagher Cup, named for event founder Drury Gallagher.
Finishing in second place was Ron Collins, 40, from Clearwater, Florida, posting a time of just over eight hours (8:00:26). Collins held off a late charge by New York City resident Gilles Chalandon, who cut Collins' earlier eight-minute lead in half to finish in 8:04:44. Rounding out the top five were Rachel Luch, 20, a student from Chester, New York (4th - 8:06:48) and Thomas Schwartz, 42, a physician from Sarasota, Florida (5th - 8:07:00).
Earlier in the day, 14 individuals and 7 relays from around the country began the race at Battery Park City's South Cove - near the southern tip of Manhattan on the Hudson River. Competitors followed the traditional counterclockwise route around Manhattan, swimming up the East and Harlem Rivers, around the northern tip of Manhattan, and then down the Hudson River back to Battery Park City.
Conditions were near-perfect today, with sunny skies, relatively calm waters, and a water temperature of 68 degrees. Last year's event was a different story, with thunderstorms forcing swimmers back to their escort boats twice to wait out the dangerous conditions.
Finishing first among the 6-person relay teams this year was the Asphalt Green "Fish Gang" Team, with a time of 7:53:16. Team "Fish Gang" was named in honor of Andrew Fisher and Doug Irgang, two New York City swimmers who were lost in the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001. Team members, comprised of friends and teammates of the two men, are: Patti Robison, R. Christian Vergara, Joanne Colaneri, Virginia Somma-Guido, Bobby Allison and Michael Dempsey.
Finishing first in the 4-person team category were the "Tri-State Trout", with a time of 8:13:16. Team members are Leonard Jansen, Shawn Hendrickson, Richard Wallace, and Don Walsh.
The unofficial results of the swim are as follows:
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITORS
1. Emily Watts, 34, Manchester, MD, 7:46:10
2. Ron Collins, 40, Clearwater, FL, 8:00:26
3. Gilles Chalandon, 45, New York, NY, 8:04.44
4. Rachel Luch, 20, Chester, NY, 8:06.48
5. Thomas Schwartz, 42, Sarasota, FL, 8:07:00
6. Andrew Johnson, 37, Arlington, VA, 8:09:36
7. Scott Zornig, 42, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 8:15:02
8. Maddalena Mustillo, 22, Union, NJ, 8:21:08
9. Michael Maier, 40, Ellington, CT, 8:21:48
10. Becky Jackman, 38, La Mesa, CA, 8:29:09
11. Bonnie Schwartz, 23, New York, NY, 8:53:03
12. Terry Laughlin, 51, New Paltz, NY, 8:53:31
13. Henry Eckstein, 54, New York, NY, 9:05:00
14. Chris Solarz, 23, New York, NY, 9:13:31
6-PERSON RELAY TEAMS:
1. Asphalt Green "Fish Gang", 7:53:16
2. Team Sufferfest, 8:39:20
3. Holy Cross Alumni, 8:48:28
4. Jelly Fish, 9:02:22
4-PERSON RELAY TEAMS:
1. Tri-State Trout, 8:13:16
2. Team Whatever, 8:32:05
3. Team Himajin, 8:34:25
The Manhattan Island Marathon Swim is sponsored by the Manhattan Island Foundation, with additional support from the Hudson River Park Trust, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and corporate sponsor D'Agostino Supermarkets. Each year, the Manhattan Island Foundation donates a portion of the race's proceeds to help New York City neighborhoods establish Learn to Swim programs for children, and rehabilitate city swimming facilities. More than $100,000 has been donated so far. |
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