HOSTED BY Okefenokee Aquatic Club

COMPETITION The Open Water Race serves as the LSC Open Water Qualifier for Georgia Swimming Zone Team. The competition will be organized according to these age classifications:

● 10 & Under

● 11-12

● 13-14

● 15-16

● 17 & Over

LOCATION The meet will be held at Laura S. Walker State Park.

COURSE The course begins just to the right of the designated swimming area (Swimmers will wade out waist deep) and will finish just to the right of the designated swimming area (through the finish arch). Swimmers will complete the inverted triangle course with the amount of loops corresponding with their age group. A turn judge will be stationed at each buoy. Lead out boat will stay ahead of the swimmers. Safety kayakers and boats will be stationed and circling throughout the race, one on each side of the triangle and two roaming inside the triangle.

SCHEDULE SATURDAY

MAY 4 3:30p OPEN COURSE FOR WARM UP

4:15p Team Pursuit Safety Briefing

4:30p 1.25K Team Pursuits

5:30p Open Water Championship Pasta Dinner

SUNDAY MAY 5 7:00a-7:30a- Race Check in, suit and nail check

7:30a- Safety Briefing with all lifeguards and officials

7:45a-8:20a- Course Open for Warm Up

8:30a- 5k Race briefing

8:45a- 5k start with 5 minutes between boys and girls waves

10:30a- 2.5K & 1.25K Race briefing

10:45a- 2.5K start (boys and girls)

10:50p- 1.25K start (boys and girls)

CHECK-IN Heats will be as follows:

1. 13 & Over Mixed 1.25K Team Pursuit

2. 12 & Under Mixed 1.25K Team Pursuit

3. 13 & Over Boys 5K

4. 13 & Over Girls 5K

5. 11-12 Boys 2.5K

6. 11-12 Girls 2.5K

7. 10 & Under Boys 1.25K

8. 10 & Under Girls 1.25K

Events will be swum in the above order. Events may begin prior to the completion of the previous event(s) at the discretion of the Referee. Swimmers must report to the check-in table appropriate for their age and gender and report to the Meet Volunteer that they are present and prepared to swim. At that time, the swimmers will be numbered and have nails checked.

Team Pursuits consist of 3-6 Swimmers that can work together to cross the finish line. All members of the team pursuit MUST complete the course. Time will stop when the third person crosses the finish line with at least one boy and one girl. (For example: if the first three that cross the finish line are boys, time will stop when the first girl crosses the finish line.) Team pursuits start order will be drawn at random and leave at 30 second intervals.

SAFETY There will be a mandatory Pre-Race Briefing held before competition begins to discuss the course, rules, and safety procedures. The Referee will remove any swimmer from competition who does not attend the clinic or is found to be inattentive during the clinic. Course will be patrolled by qualified safety personnel.

ATHLETE Athletes conduct will be governed by Part Seven of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations Handbook. Intentional obstruction, interference or intentional contact with another swimmer may be deemed "Unsporting Impedance" and lead to disqualification. Swimmers shall maintain clearance from other swimmers except at the start, turn, and the finish or where the course or race conditions dictate otherwise. Parents and swimmers should be advised that there are a sizable number of entrants. Open water swimmers may expect to involve inadvertent contact with other swimmers. It is important that swimmers keep a cool head while in the water.

ELIGIBILITY Swimmer(s) must be registered with Georgia Swimming to be accepted into this meet. Age as of May 4, 2024, shall determine the swimmer’s age for the Open Water race.

Registered athletes from other LSCs may enter but will not be eligible for Georgia S

wimming Awards. Swimmers must swim up to the age they are trying to qualify in for Open Water Zones

ENTRY CHAIR Kevin Sullivan: [email protected]

MEET DIRECTOR Kevin Sullivan

MEET REFEREE Jason Frankel

INDEPENDENT SAFETY MONITOR

OFFICIALS We welcome all USA Swimming Certified Officials. Please refer to the Georgia Swimming website for complete certification requirements. The on-line tests for Open Water Judge and Open Water Referee can be found on the USA Swimming website in the Officials Section.

SCORING: 4-2-1. Double for Team Pursuits. (Exhibition Team Pursuits for any swimmer that wants to compete and does not have a team)

AWARDS 1st through 3rd place for each age group will receive awards. Team Awards for 1st through 3rd place.

MEET WARM-UP PROCEDURES

An area adjacent to the competition will be available for continuous warm-up and warm-down during competition. Swimmers found in the water outside of the designated area will be scratched from the meet regardless of whether or not they have completed their events

PROGRAMS: Psych sheets will be available on-line at gaswim.org and oacswim.com

FINAL RESULTS Final results and Hy-Tek Team Manager Results file will be posted to gaswim.org

PARKING Parking is $5 with over 200 spaces available, unless you have a Georgia State Park annual pass, in which the cost is free.

RECORDING Use of audio or visual recording devices, including a cell phone, is not permitted in changing areas, rest rooms, or locker rooms.

CHANGING AREAS

Except where venue facilities require otherwise, changing into or out of swimsuits other than locker rooms or changing facilities, or other designated areas, is prohibited

DISABILITY ATHLETES

We welcome registered athletes with cognitive or physical disabilities, and the Referee will make reasonable accommodations to facilitate participation. We request you notify the Meet Director or the Meet Referee in advance, to allow us to understand the nature of any accommodation being requested.

DRONES Operation of a drone on state park facilities is not approved without prior consent through the park ranger.