Rapid City brothers Nathan and Aaron Ainsle take first and second place in the 5k swim. Both swim for the Rushmore Swim Team coached by Dave Swank.
RAPID CITY, S.D. – The serene waters of Pactola Reservoir transformed into a vibrant racecourse today as 128 swimmers from across the nation converged for the annual Pure Pactola open-water swim. The event, a highlight for the Rapid City and South Dakota athletic community, showcased impressive endurance and speed across five challenging distances, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Black Hills.
Local athletes made a significant splash, securing top finishes in several categories. Athletes from across the state and farther competed including Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Arizona, and Minnesota and ages ranged from 7 to 76.
Race Highlights and Course Details
The longest and most demanding event, the 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) race, offered a particularly scenic and challenging route. Starting from the south swim beach, competitors headed west towards the dam, then north past the iconic ‘Alcatraz’ island, close to the boat dock, before returning to the start.
Nathan Ainslie, 17, of Rapid City, claimed the overall victory in the 5k race with a formidable time of 1 hour, 12 minutes, 20.59 seconds. Hot on his heels was fellow Rapid City swimmer and brother Aaron Ainslie, 15, who finished second overall in 1:16:14.32. The top female finisher in the 5k was Susan von der Lippe, 60, of Loveland, Colorado, completing the course in 1:18:37.38.
The 2.4-mile race saw another Rapid City resident, Marissa Renaud, 18, take the top spot with a time of 54 minutes, 46.90 seconds. The fastest male in this distance was Lane Johnson, 58, also of Rapid City, with a time of 1:16:04.54.
In the 1.2-mile event, Brady Burgess, 13, from Box Elder, SD, led the field, finishing in 27 minutes, 07.43 seconds. Close behind was Izzy Renaud, 13, of Rapid City, who was the top female in 27 minutes, 15.40 seconds.
The 0.5-mile sprint saw Devyn Goodrich, 13, of Rapid City, secure the overall win in 12 minutes, 00.72 seconds. The fastest male was Colter Goodrich, 14, of Casper, Wyoming, finishing in 14 minutes, 58.12 seconds.
The future of open-water swimming was on display in the kids’ race. Maddy Berger, 11, of Fort Collins, Colorado, finished first in 6 minutes, 42.16 seconds, with Andre Harris, 10, of Sioux Falls, SD, as the fastest boy, completing the course in 6 minutes, 49.51 seconds.
Safety and Support
The success and safety of the Pure Pactola event were significantly bolstered by a dedicated team of volunteers. This crucial support system included vigilant rescue kayakers and paddle boarders who patrolled the course, diligent shore spotters, and several motor-boaters providing additional safety oversight and support, ensuring a secure environment for all participants.
Competitors across all distances were divided into men’s and women’s categories, further segmented by wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions, accommodating various preferences and conditions.
The paddlers are always looking for more help to keep the event safe. Please go to their facebook group if interested in helping them next year: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackhillspaddlers
Full Results and More Information
For complete detailed results of all participants in every division, please visit the official RegXT Timing results page. More information about the Pure Pactola event can be found on its official website.
Learn more about the Pure Pactola event at Pure Pactola Official Website.
