Dynoswim brings home gold medals

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

I am a terrible swimmer. Anyone who knows me knows this to be true. I used “swimmies” on my arms as a kid. I still doggy paddle.

But one group of swimmers in Flagler County knows how to move quickly in the water.

The Palm Coast Dynoswim masters swimming team — a competitive swimming team for water enthusiasts older than 18 — competed Aug. 13 in the Hammerhead Ocean Swim Marathon, in Jacksonville Beach.

The race consisted of a 1.25-mile swim and a 2.5-mile swim, and featured more than 100 participants.

In the 2.5-mile event, Sheryl Watson placed first in the overall masters division, defeating all women over 40. Kate Sussman won for women ages 50 to 54. Glenn Partelow won his division for all men over 60. Danette D’Angelo won the 45 to 49 division in the 1.25-mile event, and Jake Scully won the men’s 45 to 49 division. Gerry Keyes placed third in the men’s 55 to 60 division, and Corrine Schafer placed fifth in the women’s 25 to 29 division.

D’Angelo was stung by a jellyfish halfway into the swim, but still managed to finish in first place.

“I thought I would just stop after those jellyfish stings, it hurt so bad,” she said. “I just had to keep going. What else should I do?”

Partelow said the team swam more than 1.25 miles at Flagler Beach three times to get ready for the swim. In addition, the team swam much farther than that in a pool three times a week for about two months to prepare.

“Great emphasis was placed on sighting the finish and swimming straight,” Partelow said. “The pool doesn’t allow this in practice. We always swim with the current. Many were concerned about this and the size of the ocean swells if we swam too close to the beach.”

Maybe one day I’ll get out there and train with the Dynoswim team. I just have to make sure I have my kayak and paddles ready if I intend on keeping up with them.

Contact Andrew O’Brien at [email protected].