350 swimmers join La Jolla Cove Relay

Eighty teams and 11 solo swimmers - a total of more than 350 -competed in Sunday’s La Jolla Cove Swim Club’s 10-mile relay.

Most teams had five people, although some had fewer, meaning each had to swim more than two miles, according to event chairmen John Heffner and Tom Hecker.

They said early indications are that they will distribute between $12,000 and $15,000 to the American Diabetes Association, San Diego Junior Lifeguard Foundation and the La Jolla Cove Swim Club.

Winners in various categories were Solo Men - Steven Litchfield (3:22:58); Solo Women - Karen Schmidt (3:10:25); All Male Team (no wetsuits) - Blue Lips Sapphire (3:09:17); All Female Team (no wetsuits) - Coronado Masters (3:51.42).

In the age-group categories that are based on the combined ages of five team members: Minnows (91-150 years) - The “A” Team (3:22:58); Dolphins (151-200) - Eat Our Bubbles (3:28:25); Sea Bass (201-250) - Blue Lips Ruby (3:07:58) Garibaldis (251-299) - Team Cannardly (3:05:20); Poseidons (300+) - Live Bait (3:46:28).

The Eat Our Bubbles swimmers took honors as Top Fundraising Team.

Heffner and Hecker gave a special nod to all of the local businesses that supported the ninth annual event.