BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts and Nevis Triathlon Federation (SKNTF) will be hosting its 9th annual StarMile2.5 Nevis-St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim on Sunday (Mar. 27) and many distance swimmers will not only be vying to first breast the finish line, but also to break Rhian Purdy’s 1:05:21 record.
According to SKNTF’s President Winston Crooke, the event is expected to attract over 100 participants, surpassing 2009’s turnout of 96 when Purdy was first to cross the finish line.
“Each year we always aim to increase our participation number and this year is no different. We normally set a goal, and over the years we’ve managed to achieve and even surpass the projected numbers,” Crooke told SKNVibes.
“One of the attractions of this event is that it is not only a race but also a challenge. Those who are not so fast or competent swimmers are allowed to use fins or a snorkel mask to get them across the beautiful Narrows”, Crooke added.
He declared that it is a very busy period for him and other members of the organising committee, as they “sort to ensure that final preparations are in place for the event”.
The swim will start at 8:00 a.m. from Oualie Beach on Nevis and ends at Cockleshell Bay on St. Kitts; an estimated distance of 2.5 miles (4km).
Over the past few years there have been an increasing number of students and faculty members from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine supporting the event, who were involved as both competitors and kayak safety patrollers.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the university would be the newest addition of sponsors for the event.
“Ross University is excited to be a part of the StarMile 2.5 open water swim across the channel between St. Kitts and Nevis, as hundreds of our students, faculty and staff have been involved in previous years. Participation in the Nevis 2.5 mile swim continues to grow each year and we are excited to support the kick-off event for a week of sports, conservation and social awareness in the Federation,” said David DeYoung, Dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
The Dean had also participated in a number of swims during its nine-year existence.
The swim is growing in stature, both regionally and globally, with the race being featured in a growing number of magazines and online articles, along with its inclusion in a new open water swim series based in the Caribbean region.
