Swimmers make waves for children’s foundation
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News from Flathead Lake Swim Series
BIG ARM — There were some impressive swims from both local and out of state swimmers July 17-19 at the second annual Flathead Lake Swim Series held at Big Arm State Park.
Approximately $2,000 was raised to benefit The Enduring Waves Foundation, a nonprofit that helps children battling serious health issues. The foundation’s two beneficiaries this year are the Lily Crist family of Ronan and the Hayden Sherman family of Bigfork.
Race director Emily von Jentzen was extremely pleased with the amount of support that came pouring in for the race.
“Between all of the volunteers lending their time and expertise, swimmers donating extra funds to support the two families and the donations by local community organizations, the event ran smooth and swimmers were able to have the best experience in the Flathead,” von Jentzen said.
Some notable swims included Mark Gilbertson, who at 72 years young finished well before the three-hour mark of the 5K (3.1 miles) race with a 2:46:50. The 10K race was won by Bozeman swimmer Phillip Luebke, who came in a full minute and a half ahead of the next competitor with a time of 2:35:06. Two out-of-state athletes, Johnny Van Velthuyzen and Michelle McRae, both from Washington, were named Flathead Lake Monsters, swimming all four races (5K, 10K, 1-mile and 1/2-mile) with the fastest cumulative times of 4:22:37 and 4:27:20, respectively.
Cooke Thompson, Enduring Waves Foundation president, is excited to see how this race grows in the future.
“The sport of open water swimming continues to grow in popularity, and with the lakes in our backyard and the amount of support we’ve seen from the community, Montana is going to become a destination spot for swimmers who simply want the best, and we’re able to give them that. It’s exciting to see how the race has grown in just two years,” Thompson said.
The third annual Flathead Lake Swim Series will be held July 15-17, 2016, at Big Arm State Park.
Flathead Lake Swim Series results
1/2 mile non-wetsuit
Johnny Van Velthuyz, 36, 0:12:09
Phillip Luebke, 44, 0:12:16
Mark Johnston, 54, 0:12:27
Miranda Anderson, 22, 0:12:28
Luther Davis, 41, 0:12:38
Michelle McRae, 39, 0:12:51
Emily von Jentzen, 32, 0:15:01
1/2 mile wetsuit
Matt Seeley, 44, 0:11:42
Evan Rowley, 35, 0:14:12
Cooke Thompson, 35, 0:16:38
Katie Van Dorn, 59, 0:24:30
1 mile zone heat, no wetsuit
Johnny Van Velthuyzen, 36, 0:22:48
Phillip Luebke, 44, 0:22:53
Miranda Anderson, 22, 0:23:35
Mark Johnston, 54, 0:23:38
Luther Davis, 41, 0:23:54
Matt Seeley, 44, 0:24:01
Michelle McRae, 39, 0:24:20
Emily von Jentzen, 32, 0:27:04
Peggy Stringer, 63, 0:29:27
Liz Makman, 53, 0:30:20
Holly Apple, 50, 0:30:53
Kevin Pritchard, 60, 0:32:32
Jeanne Ensign, 68, 0:38:12
Mary Ellen Miller, 61, 0:52:48
1 mile non-champ heat no wetsuit
Maureen Rovas, 35, 0:39:35
1 mile non-champ heat wetsuit
Evan Rowley, 35, 0:26:13
Kelli McLoughlin, 27, 0:34:16
Deb Harding, 49, 0:34:17
Philip Woodlief, 61, 0:35:40
Bob Burkhardt, 60, 0:36:41
Lydia Kuderna, 61, 0:41:27
Sharon Eikel, 57, 0:48:24
10K non-wetsuit
Phillip Luebke, 44, 2:35:06
Johnny Van Velthuyzen, 36, 2:36:28
Michelle McRae, 39, 2:37:44
Miranda Anderson, 22, 2:49:10
Mark Johnston, 54, 2:57:39
Emily von Jentzen, 32, 3:02:08
Luther Davis, 41, 3:02:58
Lila Johnson, 31, 3:15:01
Josiah Badger, 33, 4:13:10
10K wetsuit
Amy Mack, 56, 2:39:56
William Craig, 46, 2:52:47
Jennifer Fiebig, 35, 2:55:09
Michael Guthrie, 55, 3:05:46
Evan Rowley, 35, 3:26:40
Wade Stover, 50, 4:00:32
Elizabeth Conway, 36, 4:08:54
Michael Kraft, 28, 3:49
5K non-wetsuit
Jacob Copley, 35, 1:08:38
Johnny Van Velthuyzen, 36, 1:11:12
Michelle McRae, 39, 1:12:25
Phillip Luebke, 44, 1:14:03
Mark Johnston, 54, 1:14:23
Miranda Anderson, 22, 1:14:53
Luther Davis, 41, 1:18:51
Emily von Jentzen, 32, 1:24:46
Laura Schob, 56, 1:36:59
Evan Rowley, 35, 1:43:22
Mark Gilbertson, 72, 2:46:50.1
5K wetsuit
Christopher Smith, 45, 1:08:36
Edie VanBuskirk, 52, 1:09:29
Matt Seeley, 44, 1:09:55
Jack Tuholske, 61, 1:12:14
Ali Bronsdon, 31, 1:20:07
Chad Bishop, 38, 1:23:07
Jenni Brown, 37, 1:26:31
Caroline Stephens, 26, 1:39:20
Brandon Farnes, 35, 1:40:37
Peggy Stringer, 63, 1:42:37
Amy Tingley, 41, 1:49:10
Kate Sheridan, 30, 1:49:55
Peter Larkin, 33, 1:53:47
Philip Woodlief, 61, 2:17:20
Charles Freshman, 55, 2:36:02
