If things stack up to the organizer’s expectations there will be over 18,000 entrants in this year’s aQuellé Midmar Mile in South Africa. The event already owns the Guiness Book of World Records for the world’s largest open water race in 2011 with 13,755 finishers. This is the 40th year of the race that started in 1974 with only 153 swimmers. Mike Arburthnot, one of the race founders, has competed in every race and will also be amongst this year’s competitors.
The event includes some of the world’s top open water swimmers including RSA national team Chad Ho who’s won the past three concecutive events. The men’s field also includes Troy Prinsloo, Mark Randall, Myles Brown, Riaan Schoeman.
On the women’s side Keri-Anne Payne (Great Britain) is going for her eighth title but she’ll have to face Ashley Twichell (USA) – a double national champion at last year’s USA Open Water Nationals; pool great Katinka Hosszu (HUN), and South African Michelle Weber who won the 2012 FINA junior 5K title.
The event will also see World Record holder Cameron van der Burgh is swimming it breaststroke to raise money for breast cancer.
You can find complete results at the MidMar Mile site
Ashley Twichell… MY PRIZE. Boom boom.