Bonaire EcoSwim a Major Success

By Christine Manna

NETHERLANDS, Antilles, November 12. FUN, friendships, food and fine wine. These are just a few of the things that made up this year’s Bonaire Eco-Swim, where over 80 swimmers, ranging in ages from 4 -71, representing 17 states and five countries, participated in either the one mile, 5K, 10K or kids pier to pier swim along the beautiful coastline of Bonaire, the Caribbean island located in the Netherlands Antilles.

On an overcast Saturday morning on November 5th at 8:00 a.m., swimmers started their engines from the water together near the dock of Captain Don’s Habitat, the start and finish location of the race. Starting with the 10K swim, there were 19 competitors participating, with the overall winner being Jimmy Welborn, 50, from Chattanooga, Tenn. Welborn defended his title with a time of 2:03.20. It was a close race with 28-year old Miriam Nowak finishing 11 seconds behind, as she touched second overall and finished as the top female with a time of 2:03.31.

Competing in the 5K were 26 swimmers, where Juan Chavez, 38, from Medellin, Colombia took the prize as top finisher with a time of 1:02.40. Former Canadian Olympian, Carol Carr from Franklin, Tenn., age 42, wasn’t too far back, as she finished second overall with a time of 1:06.14. Jamal Trenidad, 13, the youngest Bonairean participant in the 5K did a fabulous job with fins and ended up in third place.

Twenty-two swimmers participated in the one-mile race, as Pieter Zweers, 48, from Bonaire won with a time of 29:30. The top female finisher in this category was Sheila Peters, 46, from Austin, Texas with a time of 29:49.

“This was the largest participation we’ve ever had for this race in Bonaire,” said Randy Nutt, event director who has been organizing the Bonaire races for the last five years. “We even had a vacationing couple, Nancy and Paul Ronan from Brooklyn, NY, who was celebrating their 16th year anniversary on the day of the race that had heard about the swim two days before and participated.”

“We loved every minute of the week from the spectacular fish to the wonderful new friends we have met,” said Sue Welker, head coach of the Naperville Waves Swim Club. “About 200 yards into our first group swim of the week, I turned to one of my swimmers, Michelle Sims and said, this is what adult swimming is all about, being fit and healthy enough to do swims like this and enjoy the fabulous water here in Bonaire. Masters swimming at its best was found on this island. Thanks so much to Randy Nutt and the harem of helpers.”

The day after the race, swimmers took part in coming aboard an authentic Siamese Sailing Junk, called the Samur that was built in Bangkok, Thailand in 1968. The ship set sail for a 3½ hour cruise, where everyone got to enjoy refreshing cocktails and delicious appetizers. During the middle of the cruise, the Samur dropped anchor and everyone got to enjoy snorkeling on the other side of the Bonaire Island.

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 ONE METRIC MILE SOLO OVERALL RESULTS
Place Time First Name Last Name City State Age Gender
1 29:30 Pieter Zweers Bonaire NA 48 M
2 29:49 Sheila Peters Austin TX 46 F
3 30:06 Doug Hellerson Nashville TN 59 M
4 31:39 Frank Bohm Bonaire NA 47 M
5 34:45 Susan Bartlett Austin TX 47 F
6 35:51 Sandra Cathey Statesville NC 56 F
7 36:44 Giada Binelli Bonaire NA 14 F
8 40:01 Jamie Mcfadden Allentown PA 43 M
9 42:52 Harold Weatherby Montgomery AL 71 M
10 42:57 Adriana Azcarate Caracas VZ 46 F
11 43:51 Alison Smith Charlotte NC 51 F
12 44:42 MariaElena Terrero Caracas VZ 32 F
13 45:30 Maria Jiminez Caracas VZ 16 F
14 46:03 Maria Arcaya Caracas VZ 31 F
15 46:59 Nancy Ronan Brooklyn NY 37 F
16 49:44 Carolina Urdaneta Caracas VZ 32 F
17 52:33 Erika Sanders Bonaire NA 30 F
18 54:54 Seth Eskind Nashville TN 47 M
19 59:55 Amanda Castan Bonaire NA 32 F
20 1:02:52 Marieke Schmitz Bonaire NA 30 F
21 1:08:12 Paul Ronan Brooklyn NY 44 M
22 1:18:52 Carmen Bernabela Bonaire NA 48 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 ONE METRIC MILE FEMALE SOLO RESULTS
1 29:49 Sheila Peters Austin TX 46 F
2 34:45 Susan Bartlett Austin TX 47 F
3 35:51 Sandra Cathey Statesville NC 56 F
4 36:44 Giada Binelli Bonaire NA 14 F
5 42:57 Adriana Azcarate Caracas VZ 46 F
6 43:51 Alison Smith Charlotte NC 51 F
7 44:42 MariaElena Terrero Caracas VZ 32 F
8 45:30 Maria Jiminez Caracas VZ 16 F
9 46:03 Maria Arcaya Caracas VZ 31 F
10 46:59 Nancy Ronan Brooklyn NY 37 F
11 49:44 Carolina Urdaneta Caracas VZ 32 F
12 52:33 Erika Sanders Bonaire NA 30 F
13 59:55 Amanda Castan Bonaire NA 32 F
14 1:02:52 Marieke Schmitz Bonaire NA 30 F
15 1:18:52 Carmen Bernabela Bonaire NA 48 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 ONE METRIC MILE MALE SOLO RESULTS
1 29:30 Pieter Zweers Bonaire NA 48 M
2 30:06 Doug Hellerson Nashville TN 59 M
3 31:39 Frank Bohm Bonaire NA 47 M
4 40:01 Jamie Mcfadden Allentown PA 43 M
5 42:52 Harold Weatherby Montgomery AL 71 M
6 54:54 Seth Eskind Nashville TN 47 M
7 1:08:12 Paul Ronan Brooklyn NY 44 M

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 ONE METRIC MILE WITH FINS OVERALL RESULTS
1 36:55 Richard Meyer Bonaire NA 41 M
2 38:53 Bettina Goetz Bonaire NA 33 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 ONE METRIC MILE WITH FINS FEMALE RESULTS
1 38:53 Bettina Goetz Bonaire NA 33 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 ONE METRIC MILE WITH FINS FEMALE RESULTS
1 36:55 Richard Meyer Bonaire NA 41 M

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 5K OVERALL RESULTS
1 1:02:40 Juan Chávez Medellín COL 38 M
2 1:06:14 Carol Carr Franklin TN 42 F
3 1:08:56 Russ Frazier Palm Harbor FL 51 M
4 1:10:02 Cheryl Ridall Austin TX 43 F
5 1:16:18 Raul Pegan Caracas VZ 48 M
6 1:16:47 Edmond Saade Caracas VZ 37 M
7 1:18:01 Leopoldo Lopez Caracas VZ 33 M
8 1:20:32 Carlos Beherens Caracas VZ 57 M
9 1:20:45 Esteban Torbar Caracas VZ 38 M
10 1:20:48 Pat Marzulli Indian Rocks Beach FL 56 M
11 1:21:52 Jose Vegas Caracas VZ 50 M
12 1:22:10 Enrique Nevett Caracas VZ 47 M
13 1:28:04 Catherine Moore Los Angeles CA 44 F
14 1:28:10 Fernando Arriaga Caracas VZ 45 M
15 1:29:06 Alberto Tovar Caracas VZ 45 M
16 1:29:46 Martha Shiverick Gates Mills OH 50 F
17 1:30:08 Carolina Witzke Caracas VZ 39 F
18 1:30:22 Thomas Norgaard Caracas VZ 26 M
19 1:32:44 Pieter Crielaard Bonaire NA 37 M
20 1:32:53 Carolina White Caracas VZ 42 F
21 1:34:15 Judy Eskind Nashville TN 50 F
22 1:35:27 Jeroen Geurtsen Bonaire NA 22 M
23 1:45:12 Patricia Sener Brooklyn NY 41 F
24 1:48:42 Virpi Scarborough Nashville TN 59 F
25 1:53:53 Kristen Van De Carr Bloomingdale KS 43 F
26 2:47:30 Julia Rubin New York NY 45 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 5K FEMALE RESULTS
1 1:06:14 Carol Carr Franklin TN 42 F
2 1:10:02 Cheryl Ridall Austin TX 43 F
3 1:28:04 Catherine Moore Los Angeles CA 44 F
4 1:29:46 Martha Shiverick Gates Mills OH 50 F
5 1:30:08 Carolina Witzke Caracas VZ 39 F
6 1:32:53 Carolina White Caracas VZ 42 F
7 1:34:15 Judy Eskind Nashville TN 50 F
8 1:45:12 Patricia Sener Brooklyn NY 41 F
9 1:48:42 Virpi Scarborough Nashville TN 59 F
10 1:53:53 Kristen Van De Carr Bloomingdale KS 43 F
11 2:47:30 Julia Rubin New York NY 45 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 5K MALE RESULTS
1 1:02:40 Juan Chávez Medellín COL 38 M
2 1:08:56 Russ Frazier Palm Harbor FL 51 M
3 1:16:18 Raul Pegan Caracas VZ 48 M
4 1:16:47 Edmond Saade Caracas VZ 37 M
5 1:18:01 Leopoldo Lopez Caracas VZ 33 M
6 1:20:32 Carlos Beherens Caracas VZ 57 M
7 1:20:45 Esteban Torbar Caracas VZ 38 M
8 1:20:48 Pat Marzulli Indian Rocks Beach FL 56 M
9 1:21:52 Jose Vegas Caracas VZ 50 M
10 1:22:10 Enrique Nevett Caracas VZ 47 M
11 1:28:10 Fernando Arriaga Caracas VZ 45 M
12 1:29:06 Alberto Tovar Caracas VZ 45 M
13 1:30:22 Thomas Norgaard Caracas VZ 26 M
14 1:32:44 Pieter Crielaard Bonaire NA 37 M
15 1:35:27 Jeroen Geurtsen Bonaire NA 22 M

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 5K WITH FINS OVERALL RESULTS
1 1:12:38 Claire Secker Austin TX 50 F
2 1:20:20 Mitchell Greenberg Melbourne FL 46 M
3 1:24:19 Brenda Walker Sherwood Park 50 F
4 1:24:23 Michelle Mathieu Oswego IL 42 F
5 1:32:42 Eugene Greenberg Vero Beach FL 70 M
6 1:42:48 Jamal Trenidad Bonaire NA 13 M
7 1:54:00 Sonja Voelkle Bonaire NA 35 F
8 1:58:50 Saralynn May Bonaire NA 50 F
9 2:07:34 Marcel Nahr Bonaire NA 48 M

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 5K WITH FINS FEMALE RESULTS
1 1:12:38 Claire Secker Austin TX 50 F
2 1:24:19 Brenda Walker Sherwood Park 50 F
3 1:24:23 Michelle Mathieu Oswego IL 42 F
4 1:54:00 Sonja Voelkle Bonaire NA 35 F
5 1:58:50 Saralynn May Bonaire NA 50 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 5K WITH FINS MALE RESULTS
1 1:20:20 Mitchell Greenberg Melbourne FL 46 M
2 1:32:42 Eugene Greenberg Vero Beach FL 70 M
3 1:42:48 Jamal Trenidad Bonaire NA 13 M
4 2:07:34 Marcel Nahr Bonaire NA 48 M

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 10K OVERALL RESULTS
1 2:03:20 Jimmy Welborn Chattanooga TN 50 M
2 2:03:31 Miriam Nowak Auburn MI 28 F
3 2:12:26 Carlos Herrera Caracas VZ 24 M
4 2:16:48 Salvatore Cali Caracas VZ 27 M
5 2:29:10 Jane Scott Austin TX 42 F
6 2:30:54 Derek Parr Chapel Hill NC 31 M
7 2:33:33 Roberto Mateu Caracas VZ 24 M
8 2:41:36 Ernst Lisek Naperville IL 38 M
9 2:41:37 Michelle Sims Naperville IL 36 F
10 2:44:09 Michael Harris Austin TX 58 M
11 2:59:24 Amanda Hunt Naperville IL 46 F
12 3:00:38 Simon Hunt Naperville IL 38 M
13 3:01:23 Leslie Blanke Austin TX 43 F
14 3:07:10 Gretchen Van De Carr Durham NC 48 F
15 3:08:36 Amy Wartman St Louis MO 44 F
16 3:12:10 Gretta Forrester St. Louis MO 41 F
17 3:12:32 Daniel Edwards New York NY 31 M
18 3:12:41 Ralph "Laneline" MacIntyre Atlanta GA 54 M
19 4:05:01 Diana Corbin Beltsville MD 37 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 10K FEMALE RESULTS
1 2:03:31 Miriam Nowak Auburn MI 28 F
2 2:29:10 Jane Scott Austin TX 42 F
3 2:41:36 Michelle Sims Naperville IL 36 F
4 2:59:24 Amanda Hunt Naperville IL 46 F
5 3:01:23 Leslie Blanke Austin TX 43 F
6 3:07:10 Gretchen Van De Carr Durham NC 48 F
7 3:08:36 Amy Wartman St Louis MO 44 F
8 3:12:10 Gretta Forrester St. Louis MO 41 F
9 4:05:01 Diana Corbin Beltsville MD 37 F

BONAIRE ECOSWIM 2005 10K MALE RESULTS
1 2:03:20 Jimmy Welborn Chattanooga TN 50 M
2 2:12:26 Carlos Herrera Caracas VZ 24 M
3 2:16:48 Salvatore Cali Caracas VZ 27 M
4 2:30:54 Derek Parr Chapel Hill NC 31 M
5 2:33:33 Roberto Mateu Caracas VZ 24 M
6 2:41:37 Ernst Lisek Naperville IL 38 M
7 2:44:09 Michael Harris Austin TX 58 M
8 3:00:38 Simon Hunt Naperville IL 38 M
9 3:12:32 Daniel Edwards New York NY 31 M
10 3:12:41 Ralph "Laneline" MacIntyre Atlanta GA 54 M

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