Van Rutten Takes Third Straight Bonaire Eco-Swim

By Cristena Pazos

KRAALENDIJK, BONAIRE, November 8. SATURDAY morning's scattered
drizzles did nothing to lessen Bonaire's underwater beauty, nor did they
deter 16-year-old Vincent Van Rutten of neighboring Curacao from cruising
to victory for the third year in a row in the annual Bonaire Eco-Swim.

Van Rutten, who is a national record holder in his country, won both the metric mile in 20 minutes 28 seconds, and the Deep Blue 5K in 1 hour, 19 minutes 33 seconds.

The top female finisher and second overall in both events was Lisa Hazen,
39, from Saratoga, CA, who competed on the open water pro-circuit from
1994 to '99. Competing in this event for the first time, the three-time Waikiki winner and course record-holder, finished the mile in 22 minutes 3
seconds, and the 5K in 1 hour, 25 minutes 2 seconds.

Over 60 swimmers competed in both the solo and fins divisions of Bonaire's
3rd Annual Ecoswim, which offered two separate courses beginning from the
pier at the Buddy Dive Resort, continuing along protected coral reefs that
surround the island and crossing the 800 foot deep blue channel to the
uninhabited gem of Klein Bonaire.

From the talented field, English Channel winner ('99) Gail Rice, age 47, of
Miami, FL and former world record-holder (50m free) Carol Carr, 40, of
Franklin, TN, tied for third overall in the 5k with a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes 33 seconds. The former Canadian Olympian ('84) Carr and open
water champion Rice, raced neck and neck down the stretch, and in a show of
great sportswomanship and camaraderie, they stopped one foot short of the
finish line and crossed holding hands.

Tim Kennedy, age 47, of St. Petersburg, Florida, finished third overall in the metric mile with a time of 23 minutes 45 seconds, then repeated with a fourth place overall finish in the 5k in 1 hour, 32 minutes 14 seconds.

Rounding out the other top five finishers, Barbara Milanese, age 41, of
Boca Raton, FL, finished fourth in the mile in 24 minutes 21 seconds,
followed by Bill Dick, age 57, of Fulton, CA, who crossed at 26 minutes 14 seconds. Silvie Ketelaars, age 19, of Curacao finished fifth overall in
the 5k in a time of 1 hour, 32 minutes 17 seconds.

In addition to sweeping the two solo events, the Van Rutten family brought along new ammunition in the form of two younger brothers, Patrick and Brian. Like his older brother, Patrick Van Rutten, age 13, won both the mile and 5k — in his case, in the fins division — with times of 21 minutes 52 seconds, and 1 hour, 30 minutes 5 seconds, respectively.

Chris Gilligan from Sarasota, FL, daughter of Max Wharton, who was the stunt double for Tarzan (Johnny Weismueller), was the top female fins finisher for the mile in a time of 26 minutes 10 seconds. Top female fins finisher for the 5k was a native from Bonaire, Esther Wiegerink, age 35, in a time of 1 hour 39 minutes.

Swimmers from all over the United States, Europe, South America and the
Caribbean joined to compete in this growing event and to soak up this tiny
paradise where families of donkeys roam freely, where there are no traffic
lights and whose underwater diversity and beauty are ranked among the top in the world.

Samer Salty, age 39, came from London, England to participate in the 5k after only learning to swim freestyle two months ago. Janet Reiser and her best friend, Karen Ford, both traveled all the way from Alaska while eight swimmers made the worthwhile trek from Tennessee.

Winners in each of the divisions won wonderful, unique awards that were designed and hand-painted by a local artist.

Information on next year's swim and other races organized by Randy Nutt can
be found by logging on to www.randynutt.com.

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 1 Mile – Overall Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 van Rutten Vincent M 16 Curacao NA 20:28:00
2 Hazen Lisa F 39 Saratoga CA 22:03:00
3 Kennedy Timothy M 47 St Petersburg FL23:45:00
4 Milanese BarbaraF 41 Boca Raton,FL 24:21:00
5 Dick Bill M 57 Fulton CA 26:14:00
6 Zweers Pieter M 46 Bonaire,NA 26:22:00
7 Bass Cathie F 44 Liverpool NY 26:48:00
8 Bohm Frank M 45 Bonaire,NA 26:53:00
9 Botes Marlena F 41 Pompano Beach,FL28:08:00
10 Donnell Philip M 32 Mt. Juliet, TN 30:06:00
11 Brewer Richard M 58 Naples FL 30:33:00
12 Fransen Mieke F 24 Bonaire, NA 34:00:00
13 DeGroot Geertje F 41 Bonaire,NA 35:13:00
14 Kiper Carolyn F 44 St Petersburg,FL35:45:00
15 Powers Mike M 62 Tampa FL 36:59:00
16 Garbus Jean F 69 Ft Myers,FL 37:17:00
17 Rice Gail F 47 Miami, FL 37:18:00
18 ScarboroughVirpiF 57 Nashville, TN 39:49:00
19 Hailey David M 21 Kingston Spgs.TN40:36:00
20 Meyer Richard M 39 Caracas VEN 40:49:00
21 Teitel Pam F 41 Bonaire, NA 42:54:00
22 Martha Ronaline F 30 Curacao NA 45:59:00
23 Leonicia Marino M 14 Bonaire, NA 46:59:00
24 Schut Lisa F 13 Bonaire, NA 47:45:00
25 Hankart Lucien M 66 Gent BEL 49:41:00
26 Beaumont Rolando M 41 Bonaire, NA 50:45:00
27 Meacham Aimee F 31 Arlington VA 58:10:00
28 Soree Juliandro F 13 Bonaire, NA 59:16:00
29 Binelli Jennifer F 10 Bonaire, NA 59:59:00
30 Winslow Laura F 43 Scottsdale AZ 59:59:00
31 Everts Lihainy F 16 Bonaire, NA 1:01:48
32 Binelli Giada F 12 Bonaire, NA DNF
33 Frans Jay M 18 Bonaire, NA DNF

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 1 Mile – Overall Male Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 van Rutten Vincent M 16 Curacao NA 20:28:00
2 Kennedy Timothy M 47 St Petersburg FL 23:45:00
3 Dick Bill M 57 Fulton CA 26:14:00
4 Zweers Pieter M 46 Bonaire, NA 26:22:00
5 Bohm Frank M 45 Bonaire, NA 26:53:00
6 Donnell Philip M 32 Mt. Juliet TN 30:06:00
7 Brewer Richard M 58 Naples FL 30:33:00
8 Powers Mike M 62 Tampa FL 36:59:00
9 Hailey David M 21 Kingston Springs TN 40:36:00
10 Meyer Richard M 39 Caracas VEN 40:49:00
11 Leonicia Marino M 14 Bonaire, NA 46:59:00
12 Hankart Lucien M 66 Gent BEL 49:41:00
13 Beaumont Rolando M 41 Bonaire, NA 50:45:00
14 Frans Jay M 18 Bonaire, NA DNF

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 1 Mile – Overall Female Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Hazen Lisa F 39 Saratoga CA 22:03:00
2 Milanese Barbara F 41 Boca Raton, FL 24:21:00
3 Bass Cathie F 44 Liverpool NY 26:48:00
4 Botes Marlena F 41 Pompano Beach FL 28:08:00
5 Fransen Mieke F 24 Bonaire, NA 34:00:00
6 DeGroot Geertje F 41 Bonaire, NA 35:13:00
7 Kiper Carolyn F 44 St Petersburg FL 35:45:00
8 Garbus Jean F 69 Ft Myers FL 37:17:00
9 Rice Gail F 47 Miami, FL 37:18:00
10 Scarborough Virpi F 57 Nashville TN 39:49:00
11 Teitel Pam F 41 Bonaire, NA 42:54:00
12 Martha Ronaline F 30 Curacao NA 45:59:00
13 Schut Lisa F 13 Bonaire, NA 47:45:00
14 Meacham Aimee F 31 Arlington VA 58:10:00
15 Soree Juliandro F 13 Bonaire, NA 59:16:00
16 Binelli Jennifer F 10 Bonaire, NA 59:59:00
17 Winslow Laura F 43 Scottsdale AZ 59:59:00
18 Everts Lihainy F 16 Bonaire, NA 1:01:48
19 Binelli Giada F 12 Bonaire, NA DNF

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 1 Mile – Male Fin Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 van Rutten Patrick M 13 Curacao NA 21:52:00
2 Tromp Delno M 36 Bonaire, NA 34:00:00
3 Trenidad Jamal M 11 Bonaire, NA 37:12:00
4 Connelly Pete M 59 Russell, KY 42:08:00
5 Erickson David M 46 Fort Myers FL 55:35:00

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 1 Mile – Female Fin Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Gilligan Chris F 60 Sarasota Fl 26:10:00
2 Boyer Danella F 29 Nashville TN 29:53:00
3 Baird Cheryl F 57 Nashville TN 35:19:00
4 Sener Patricia F 39 Brooklyn NY 35:58:00
5 Erickson Kathleen F 43 Fort Myers FL 39:52:00
6 Connelly Shannon F 52 Russell, KY 42:48:00
7 Marchena Desiree F 30 Bonaire, NA 48:08:00
8 Pauletta Arlene F 40 Curacao NA DNF

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 1 Mile – Overall Male 40 & Over Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Kennedy Timothy M 47 St Petersburg FL 23:45:00
2 Dick Bill M 57 Fulton CA 26:14:00
3 Zweers Pieter M 46 Bonaire, NA 26:22:00
4 Bohm Frank M 45 Bonaire, NA 26:53:00
5 Brewer Richard M 58 Naples FL 30:33:00
6 Powers Mike M 62 Tampa FL 36:59:00
7 Hankart Lucien M 66 Gent BEL 49:41:00
8 Beaumont Rolando M 41 Bonaire, NA 50:45:00

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 1 Mile – Overall Female 40 & Over Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Milanese Barbara F 41 Boca Raton, FL 24:21:00
2 Bass Cathie F 44 Liverpool NY 26:48:00
3 DeGroot Geertje F 41 Bonaire, NA 35:13:00
4 Kiper Carolyn F 44 St Petersburg FL 35:45:00
5 Garbus Jean F 69 Ft Myers FL 37:17:00
6 Rice Gail F 47 Miami, FL 37:18:00
7 Scarborough Virpi F 57 Nashville TN 39:49:00
8 Teitel Pam F 41 Bonaire, NA 42:54:00
9 Winslow Laura F 43 Scottsdale AZ 59:59:00

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 3 Mile – Overall Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 van Rutten Vincent M 16 Curacao NA 1:19:33
2 Hazen Lisa F 39 Saratoga CA 1:25:02
3 Rice Gail F 47 Miami, FL 1:30:33
3 Carr Carol F 40 Franklin TN 1:30:33
4 Kennedy Timothy M 47 St Petersburg FL 1:32:14
5 Ketelaars Silvie F 19 Curacao NA 1:32:17
6 Hellerson Doug M 57 Nashville TN 1:35:55
7 Capriles Teo M 36 Key Biscayne FL 1:44:31
8 Soto Deny F 25 New York NY 1:44:38
9 Saade Eddy M 35 Caracas VEN 1:46:01
10 Dick Bill M 57 Fulton CA 1:47:54
11 Dasher Don M 38 Saratoga CA 2:08:38
12 Saade Joseph M 37 Caracas VEN 2:21:08
13 von Schubert Felix M 31 London UK 2:23:42
14 Eskind Judy F 48 Nashville TN 2:42:28
15 Lepore Mario M 49 Hoboken NJ 2:44:09
16 Reiser Janet F 48 Anchorage AK 2:44:20
17 Polfer James M 31 Arlington VA 2:47:47
18 Salty Summer M 39 London UK 4:00:00
19 Antoin Franklin M 48 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00
20 Ford Karen F 47 Anchorage AK 4:00:00
21 Nahr Marcel M 46 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00
22 Nahr Hilde F 48 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00
23 Hankart Lucien M 66 Gent BEL 8:00:00

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 3 Mile – Overall Male Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 van Rutten Vincent M 16 Curacao NA 1:19:33
2 Kennedy Timothy M 47 St Petersburg FL 1:32:14
3 Hellerson Doug M 57 Nashville TN 1:35:55
4 Capriles Teo M 36 Key Biscayne FL 1:44:31
5 Saade Eddy M 35 Caracas VEN 1:46:01
6 Dick Bill M 57 Fulton CA 1:47:54
7 Dasher Don M 38 Saratoga CA 2:08:38
8 Saade Joseph M 37 Caracas VEN 2:21:08
9 von Schubert Felix M 31 London UK 2:23:42
10 Lepore Mario M 49 Hoboken NJ 2:44:09
11 Polfer James M 31 Arlington VA 2:47:47
12 Salty Summer M 39 London UK 4:00:00
13 Antoin Franklin M 48 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00
14 Nahr Marcel M 46 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00
15 Hankart Lucien M 66 Gent BEL 8:00:00

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 3 Mile – Overall Female Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Hazen Lisa F 39 Saratoga CA 1:25:02
2 Rice Gail F 47 Miami, FL 1:30:33
3 Carr Carol F 40 Franklin TN 1:30:33
4 Ketelaars Silvie F 19 Curacao NA 1:32:17
5 Soto Deny F 25 New York NY 1:44:38
6 Eskind Judy F 48 Nashville TN 2:42:28
7 Reiser Janet F 48 Anchorage AK 2:44:20
8 Ford Karen F 47 Anchorage AK 4:00:00
9 Nahr Hilde F 48 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 3 Mile – Male Fin Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 van Rutten Patrick M 13 Curacao NA 1:30:05
2 Greenberg Gene M 68 Vero Beach FL 2:10:55

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 3 Mile – Female Fin Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Wiegerink Esther F 35 Bonaire, NA 1:39:00
2 Boyer Danella F 29 Nashville TN 2:02:01
3 Sener Patricia F 39 Brooklyn NY 2:15:46

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 3 Mile – Male 40 & Over Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Kennedy Timothy M 47 St Petersburg FL 1:32:14
2 Hellerson Doug M 57 Nashville TN 1:35:55
3 Dick Bill M 57 Fulton CA 1:47:54
4 Lepore Mario M 49 Hoboken NJ 2:44:09
5 Nahr Marcel M 46 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00
6 Antoin Franklin M 48 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00
7 Hankart Lucien M 66 Gent BEL 8:00:00

The 3rd Annual Bonaire EcoSwim – 3 Mile – Female Over 40 Results
Place: Last: First: Sex: Age: City: ST: Time:
1 Carr Carol F 40 Franklin TN 1:30:33
1 Rice Gail F 47 Miami, FL 1:30:33
2 Eskind Judy F 48 Nashville TN 2:42:28
3 Reiser Janet F 48 Anchorage AK 2:44:20
4 Ford Karen F 47 Anchorage AK 4:00:00
5 Nahr Hilde F 48 Bonaire, NA 4:00:00

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