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CANYONS CONQUERS THE SEA
A small but hearty contingent of Canyons Senior Gold team took their game to the Pacific Ocean, in particular, the Semana Nautica 1 mile ocean swim at Santa Barbara. With cold air temps and even colder water, the Canyons crew of Sarah Pino, Maggie Hanson, Adriana Silva, Michael Chiu, Nui Harris, Riley Mita and Konrad Antoniuk prepared to take on what ever Davey Jones could throw at them.
With a over 100 participants, two Coastal USA swim clubs were well represented, Canyons and Santa Barbara. In addition one of the top open water swimmers in the world, Santa Barbara's own Mark Warkentin was in the crowd.
After the starting horn sounded it was a rush for the water and a mad dash for the first buoy and a 90 degree turn. As the leaders turned it was no surprise to find Warkentin in the lead, but with two Canyons caps in pursuit. The caps belonged Canyons distance kids, Konrad Antoniuk and Riley Mita. As Warkentin opened his lead, Antoniuk and Mita opened theirs over the pack.
After 20 minutes in the freezing water (the course was actually longer than a mile) Warkentin exited first, followed a bit later by Konrad and a minute later, Riley.
 
A few minutes later Canyons sprint king, Nui Harris emerged from the big drink, a little purple followed by Canyons first female Maggie Hanson (17th overall, 6th female, 5th in 17 & under age group) who may have to add distance swimming to her resume.
 
A few minutes later Canyons ace backstroker, Michael Chiu emerged only to have the ocean take one more cheap shot at him with a rouge wave, but he climbed to his feet and finished strong. Sarah Pino emerged with a pack of Santa Barbara swimmers and was happy to sprint to the finish and into a warm towel as was Canyons speedster Adrian Silva.
 
In the end, Konrad and Riley were awarded 1st and 2nd in the 17 & under age group (finishing 2nd and 3rd overall). After long hot showers the entire group went home experienced ocean swimmers with some vowing to return to take on the mighty Pacific again this fall. With open water swimming now an Olympic event, look for more Canyons swimmers hitting the big blue to show 'em how we can train near the desert and still rip up the ocean.
For more photos from the open water swim click HERE
To see the newspaper article from Sunday's Santa Barbara New Press Newspaper, click HERE
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