Kevin Fink swims to second Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier championship
Approximately 1,200 swimmers participated in the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier swim, the signature event of the International Surf Festival. Photo
Lifeguard Kevin Fink had a weekend he will not soon forget.
The 19-year-old from San Pedro was all smiles Sunday morning after racing to the finish line on the north side of the Manhattan Beach Pier. He had just won his second championship in three years in the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, the signature event at the International Surf Festival that had approximately 1,200 swimmers compete this year
Less than 12 hours earlier, Fink celebrated at the Hermosa Beach Pier as a member of the LA County – Southern team that had captured its second straight Taplin Medley Relay title.
Fink, who won the Crum Swim in 2013 and finished second last year, relied on his experience and strategy to pull off the win in a thrilling finish where only seven seconds separated the top three finishers.
“The key to the race was drafting,” Fink said. “I was drafting behind Alex Kostich and everyone seems to sprint about 200 yards in front of the pier. I don’t like to sprint that early because most swimmers will get tired before the finish so I just hammered it home. The current wasn’t pulling, but it’s always a tough race.”
Fink’s time of 40 minutes, 14 seconds edged Chris Richardson, 22, of Palos Verdes Estates (40:18) and Alex Kostich, 45, Los Angeles (40:21)
Kostich, a seasoned veteran of the event, won 11 titles between 1995 and 2010. He was runner-up in 2004, 2008 and 2007, placed third in 2014 and finished fourth last year.
Kelsey Cummings, of El Segundo, won the women’s title with the fourth-best time overall. Photo
Former El Segundo High School swimming standout and recent University of Michigan graduate Kelsey Cummings won the women’s title in her first appearance in the race.
The 22-year-old’s time of 40:31 was the fourth fastest overall and easily bested Nerice Smith, 20, of Melbourne (43:08) and Lisa Dreesen, 23, of Los Angeles (43:11).
“With so many swimmers it gets physical, especially at the start,” Cummings said. “I was really happy with the win.”
Males winning their respective age divisions included Christian Bathurst (Manhattan Beach, 14U, 46:44), Fink (15-19), Richardson (20-24), Marco Chu (Los Angeles, 25-29, 46:36), defending champion Ryan Bullock (Hermosa Beach, 30-34, 41:40), David Schlesinger (Santa Monica, 35-39, 43:06), Brad Shenfeld (Encino, 40-44, 46:06), Kostich (45-49), Grant Levy (Beverly Hills, 51-54, 44:55), Keith Dickson (Hermosa Beach, 55-59, 43:09), Thomas Boughey (Los Angeles, 60-64, 51:04), Hubie Kerns (Pacific Palisades, 65-69, 50:56) and Larry Raffaelli (Oxnard, 70 and over, 59:36).
Female division winners included Ina Gorordo (Redondo Beach, 14U, 55:20), Madaline Lipkowitz (Las Vegas, Nev. 43:48), Cummings (20-24), defending champion Mallory Mead (Los Angeles, 25-29, 43:21), Lisa Ross (Los Angeles, 30-34, 50:21), Erina Kwon (Calabasas, 35-39, 53:24), Bonnie Benjamin (San Francisco, 40-44, 54:10), Mary Donlevy (Manhattan Beach, 45-49, 50:50), Amy Dantzler (Los Angeles, 50-54, 43:17), Veronica Hibben (Huntington Beach, 55-59, 51:04), Christie Ciraulo (Los Angeles, 60-64, 51:04) and Kiyoe Fukushima (Rancho Palos Verdes, 65-69, 1:34:04).
One of the most popular long distance ocean races in the United States, the race is named after Dwight Crum who, as a captain in 1957, introduced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Program for the first time.
He was the first chairman of the International Surf Festival when it began in 1962, holding that position for 16 years.
Gary Crum has continued Dwight’s legacy as a lifeguard serving 17 years as the Section Chief in charge of the same beaches as his father. After retiring in 2001, Gary became chairman of the Surf Festival for 10 years, taking over as race director in 2010.