Aug. 28, 2008
PULLMAN, Wash. - The Washington State women's swim team will prepare this week for the grueling Snake River Challenge held Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1 beginning at 11 a.m.
The annual event consists of a 2.2 mile swim from Granite Point to the WSU Boathouse followed by a 2.2 mile run back to Granite Point. Swimmers will compete against one another for the fastest swim, run and overall time.
"This event really brings us together as a group knowing that we're able to complete a challenge like this," head coach Erica Quam said. "Since it is also the first day of practice, I think the team knows they need to come back in pretty good shape from the very beginning."
The Snake River Challenge is a time honored tradition for the Cougar swim team and both Washington State alumni and fans are encouraged to attend.
"The Snake River Challenge is a tradition that our team has carried on for almost 10 years," Quam said. "It also provides us with a chance to get out and see the environment around where we live and a beautiful place only 18 miles from campus."
Recent graduate McKenzie Reiter won the overall event in 2007 finishing in 60 minutes, 51 seconds. Reiter also had the fastest run time covering the distance back to Granite Point in a time of 15:46. Sophomore Sierra Burton finished first in the swimming portion of the endurance event with a time of 44:25.
Directions to Washington State's Boathouse: From Highway 195 (north or south), turn west on Wawawai Road at the blinking yellow light...travel on Wawawai Road for 10 miles...the road will end at a stop sign...turn right and drive down into the canyon...six miles at the bottom of the canyon...go past the county park on the right and over the railroad tracks the boathouse is a cinderblock building on the right park on the side of the road or in the parking lot south of the boathouse.
