Islander Rhea Hurnik finishes 11th in first major competition

SOUTHWEST RIVER - Swimmers battled through thick clumps of seaweed, bone-chilling temperatures and swirling tides and when they were finished many were too exhausted to raise their arms in celebration.
Several barely had the strength to collapse into chairs after volunteers and trainers swaddled them in thick blankets. They were immediately given fruit drinks and granola bars to replenish their lost energy.
The Canada Games first 10 K open water swim, for males and females, was held earlier today at the Southwest River, with B.C. claiming three of six medals.
Island swimmer Rhea Hurnik, 16, was the Island's only representative. She finished 11th in the girl's swim despite never swimming the distance competitively before.
First place in the Girls 19 and Under 10 K Open Water swim was won by Bridget Coley of Ontario, with Team British Columbia sending two swimmers to the podium. Julianne Brown won the silver medal, with her teammate Karyn Jewell captured home bronze.
Coley's gold medal winning time was two hours, 13 minutes and two seconds.
In the Boy's 19 and Under 10 K Open Water swim, Team B.C.'s Richard Weinberger finished first with a time of two hours, three minutes and 57 seconds. He was followed by Xavier Desharnais, of Quebec, while Ontario's Amieson King captured bronze.
The Southwest River claimed a high toll on male swimmers, with only eight of 15 finishing. Another P.E.I. swimmer, Will Milligan, was scratched from the race.
On the women's side only two swimmers in a field of 18 didn't finish.