VMST Part 8: 1983 Lake Swim
For The Fun Of It: 1983 Eastern States 2-Mile (by Michael J. Stott)
Nowhere has the popularity of open water swimming been more evident than the Eastern States 2-Mile. Held annually at Chris Greene Lake just north of Charlottesville, Virginia on the third Saturday in July, the 2-Mile has grown from 21 participants in 1980 to 134 in 1983. Quite simply it has become one of the largest and most festive aquatic events east of the Mississippi.
And in keeping with the trends in American life, this year's winner was a woman. Deborah Cain , 26, of Richmond, Virginia, a former NCAA All-American, completed the four-lap course in 44:08, just seconds off the lake record time of 42:51.69 set last year by University of Virginia Swimming coach Mark Bernardino . Finishing second was Mike McGee, 26, of Virginia Beach, Virginia in 44:33 and third Elaine Hochuli , 28, Arlington, Virginia, in 44:47.
Increased publicity, a spring ad in Swim Swim, extensive mailings, and word-of-mouth contributed heavily to this year's enlarged entry list.
Swimmers, 82 male and 52 female, from Rochester, N.Y. to Orlando, FL entered the 1983 edition. Every age group from 20-24 to 70-74 was represented with the oldest swimmer, venerable D.C. Masters Dave McAfee (73), taking top honors in his division.
The addition of mixed teams to the team category (five to a squad, with three best times determining the winner) also burgeoned the ranks. Overall team award went to McGee's cadre of former University of Richmond swimmers in 2:22.27.
Improvements to the 1/4-mile-straightaway course, maintained by the Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Department, in 1982 and 1983 have resulted in better times for all. Color-coded buoys every five yards and a huge halfway marker now ease the anxieties for both experienced swimmers and neophytes alike. Waterfront director Mike Dougherty has added a chute to welcome finishing swimmers, and a big funeral tent allowed admin-istrators to process registrants and results with some relief from this year's 97 degree heat.
Few athletic contests provide the value for the dollar given Chris Greene entrants. For $10 swimmers receive: a handsome commemorative T-shirt, medals, ribbons, beverages, munchies, results sheets, not to menton fun and fitness. No wonder the Eastern States 2-Mile outdrew (134-80) the Glen Hummer 2-Mile (national championship) in Huntington, Indiana this year.
Positive word-of-mouth always helps. In a bust of enthusiasm, Reston Master Desmond Bond chartered a bus for 15 swimmers plus their families. First stop was the morning 2-mile; second stop a history lesson at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.
Like any other open water swim, the start creates a overfamiliarity. The Eastern States version is a water start, whereby swimmers in each of two heats line up in rows of ten according to seed time. Right-side breathers begin in deeper water, necessitating several minutes of treading water before the opening gun.
Whereas short and long course swimmers tend to think about time, the element of just swimming two miles in open water has enticed a number of older and younger, slower but steady strokers as well. Notable among them this year was Anneliese Zoeller from Orlando, who finished in a hearty 1:29:16.
Notable too was the absence of two veterans, Mark Bernardino and Dr. John Shrum, who passed up Chris Greene to successfully defend individual and team titles at the Glen Hummer 2-mile. Shrum went to New York the following weekend (finishing third) to swim in the Manhattan Island swim as did D.C. Masters Julie Billingsley, Art Smith, and Stacy Chanin..
Concluding this year's extravaganza was an awards social hosted by co-meet director Katie Fallon. Underneath the welcome shelter of a park pavillion, swimmers and guests partied, postmortemed and applauded the accomplishments of adversaries and friends. And gave a passing thought to next year: Saturday July 21, 1984, 10 a.m.
