140 Young Athletes Compete in 2nd Annual Splash and Dash

Young swimmers and runners were up early on Saturday to compete in the 2nd Annual Franklin Lakes Splash and Dash at the Indian Trail club.

After a moment of silence in observance of 9/11, 140 kids and teens wearing swim caps bearing the American flag competed in the biathlon.   

The young athletes were divided into age categories 8-and-under, 9-11, 11, 12-13 and 14-and-up. There were also relay teams where one participant swam and the other ran. All participants received medals and the winning times in each age category were awarded trophies.

Ridgewood sisters Ella and Amelia Feiner competed in the same 9-11 age group this year.

“We are members of the Indian Trail Club and the girls begged us to participate when they saw the signs,” said their mother Shoshana. “This is a great event to bring awareness to fitness,” she added.

It was also a family affair for the Horgan family of Franklin Lakes.  Christian, age 9, competed in his age category while 7-year-old twins Alexander and Kaitlyn participated in the relay race. Christian is no novice to fitness; he runs half marathons with his mother and swims with his father, a master swimmer.

The first athlete crossing the finish line at 27:45:65 was Casey Koenig of Maywood. This was the second win for the 14-year-old, who is a member of the Wyckoff YMCA Sharks swim team.

Wyckoff fifth graders Cai DeGregorio and Brian Couglin also competed for the second year and won the team relay competition in the age 9-11 group.

“Brian is a great swimmer and Cai loves to run so this was an opportunity for the boys to work together,” said mother Elizabeth DeGregorio.

The Indian Trail Club is also the home of the Wyckoff YMCA’s annual adult triathlon.

“We have hosted the adult triathlon and saw how much interest we had from the kids,” said Bevinn Romaine, president of Indian Trails Club. “It is a wonderful community event that also compliments the mayor’s wellness initiative,” she added.

Participation in Splash and Dash was $50 for an individual and $65 for a team. Romain said they doubled the participation from last year and plan to hold this event the second Saturday in September each year.

“This is a wonderful community event and a great addition to our wellness campaign,” said Franklin Lakes Mayor Frank Bivona.

Event coordinator Nancy Addis said all proceeds from thes event benefit the Franklin Lakes Recreation Department and the Wyckoff Family YMCA. According to Addis, the Wyckoff Y puts all the proceeds back into Franklin Lakes community programming with a special emphasis on the summer recreation camps for Franklin Lakes elementary and middle school children. 

For a complete list of results visit www.Compuscore.com