2012 USMS 2-Mile Cable Open Water National Championship

 

 

 

 

LOCATION & COURSE: Foster Lake is a scenic reservoir located just off U.S. Route 20 near Sweet Home, OR. The course is a ¼-mile cable certified accurate to USMS standards. Water temperature on race day has varied from 66-72 degrees Fahrenheit and will be posted.

 

RACES:  

 

ELIGIBILITY: This event is open ONLY to 2012 USMS members or foreign equivalents. Eligibility will be automatically verified for online entries. A legible photocopy of 2012 USMS card or foreign equivalent MUST accompany mailed entries. USMS “One-Event” membership is NOT available for this event.

 

RULES: Current USMS rules will govern this event. In the Two-Mile swim, only Category I swimwear is allowed. In the One-Mile swim, Category II suits—including wetsuits—are allowed but scored in a separate category. See event website for swimwear details.

 

SEEDING: In both One & Two-Mile swims, all swimmers will be seeded fastest to slowest by 1650-yard or 1500-meter time. ‘No Time’ entries will not be accepted. Seeding changes will not be allowed after the heat sheet is posted. Enter accurate times with no adjustments!

 

STARTS: In both One & Two-Mile swims, each heat will consist of seeded waves (8-12 swimmers each) starting 20-30 seconds apart. The Two-Mile & One-Mile swims will be contested in opposite directions, which will be decided by a coin toss at the Two-Mile pre-race meeting.

 

SAFETY—OUR PRIMARY CONCERN: Safety boats will monitor the entire course and medical personnel will be on-site. Swimmers must wear the swim cap provided, must have their race number on their arms, and must follow all announced safety rules without exception. Time Limit:  Swimmers who cannot complete one mile in 50 minutes or two miles in 1:45 should NOT enter; swimmers on the course after these time limits may be stopped and listed as DNF in the results.

 

DOGS SWIM TOO! 50-meter (or so) Tandem Challenge for dogs and their significant human! Unsanctioned—after all, dogs are not eligible for USMS membership. Open Age Group—whose age would we use anyway? Individual tandem starts. Start & finish—all paws dry. No entry fee. Woof! Dogs must be on leash at all times except when swimming, and owners must pick up after them.

 

7:30 am    Lewis Creek Park opens for swimmers

8:00 am    Check-in opens for all swims

8:45 am    Check-in closes for Two-Mile

8:50 am    Pre-race meeting & marshaling for Two-Mile

9:15 am    Start of Two-Mile National Championships

11:00 am  Check-in closes for One-Mile

                 Awards for Two-Mile National Championships

11:20 pm  Pre-race meeting & marshaling for One-Mile

11:45 am  Start of One-Mile

12:15 pm  Lunch opens

12:30 pm  Check-in closes for Dog Tandem Challenge

12:45 pm  Start of Dog Tandem Challenge

1:15 pm    Awards for One-Mile

1:30 pm    Relay entries close

 

REGISTRATION: Save time, paper, & errors by registering online. Online registration closes 11:59 PM Pacific Time on June 20, 2012.  All entries MUST be received by June 20. Due to organization & seeding needs, late or day-of-race entries will NOT be accepted (except for relays, see below)—please don’t even ask. Submit your entry on time!

 

ENTRY LIMITS: The entire event—including all swims—is limited to the first 180 registrants. We will maintain a waiting list in case early registrants drop out early enough to notify others.

 

ENTRY FEES: One swim is $40. Two swims are $50. Dog Tandem Challenge is free. Entry fee includes swims, a souvenir swim cap, and a post-swim meal. No refunds after the June 20 entry deadline.

 

RELAYS: In the Two-Mile swim, cumulative relays will be accepted for National Championship places, All-American honors, and USMS records. In the One-Mile swim, relays will be accepted for records. Enter relays & pay fees on race day only. Bring club mates for relays!

 

RESULTS: Results will be posted at Foster Lake promptly after each heat & race, and at www.comaswim.org, www.swimoregon.org, and www.usms.org after the event. You may purchase hard-copy results.

 

RECORDS: Courses for both race distances are surveyed & certified, and qualify for National & Oregon cable swim records if they are set.

 

AWARDS: Age groups are standard USMS age groups.

 

OREGON OPEN WATER SERIES: All swims count towards the cumulative season series. The One-Mile & Two-Mile swims are featured swims (22-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2 points), while the Dog Tandem Challenge is a participation swim (7 points).

 

T-SHIRTS: Each swimmer may pre-order & purchase one high-quality commemorative t-shirt for $12, and additional ones for $16. Not on sale at the event. See the website below for the t-shirt design.

 

 

PARKING: Day parking costs $5 per car; please pay at park entrance.

 

LODGING & CAMPING: See event website for options.

 

WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE INFO: www.comaswim.org

 

EVENT DIRECTOR: Bob Bruce, coachbob@bendbroadband.com, 541-317-4851