King student youngest, fastest to cross L. Erie
King student youngest, fastest to cross L. Erie
Country Day School student Jade Scognamillo, 14, will try to become the youngest and fastest swimmer to cross Lake Erie Saturday.
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July 12, 2008 03:47 PM
Vaughan swim club member smashes record by over 2 hours
By: Jim Mason, Staff Writer
Jade Scognamillo beat Lake Erie and destroyed a couple of records Saturday.
The 14-year-old Country Day School student became the youngest and fastest swimmer to cross the lake this morning.
Scognamillo, who is entering Grade 10 at the King Township school in September, completed the 19.2-kilometre swim from Sturgeon Point, N.Y., to Crystal Beach, Ont., in five hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds.
Kingston’s Natalie Lambert, who is about four months older, set a new record last weekend when she made the crossing in seven hours, 47 minutes and 30 seconds.
Initially, Scognamillo wanted to attempt a crossing of Lake Ontario but lacks the experience, according to Solo Swims of Ontario, which oversees open-water, solo and long-distance swims in Ontario.
The Caledon resident overcame the notion of cold water by taking icy cold showers and training in her family’s pool, set at 64 degrees.
To qualify, the Vaughan Aquatic Club member had to swim one-third the distance she is attempting in a supervised swim in Lake Ontario last weekend.
Scognamillo, whose family moved to Canada from England in 2005, was aiming to raise $30,000 in pledges for The Hospital For Sick Children’s neonatal unit.
In 2005, while still living in England, she swam the equivalent of the English Channel in her family’s back yard pool, raising money for charity.
Visit www.jadeswim4life.com for more information and details on how to pledge support.
-_ with files from John Cudmore