A total of 57 swimmers from as far away as Colorado swam between Tahlequah and Owen Beach at Point Defiance Saturday morning for the annual Swim Defiance open water race.

No islanders competed in the event’s competitive races.

With the water temperature below 60 degrees and an air temperature not much warmer, the swims were a challenge, according to race organizers. However, 21 swimmers took on the 5K race from Owen Beach to Tahlequah and back.The men broke four records while the women broke six.

In the 3K race from Tahlequah to Owen Beach, 36 swimmers participated; the men broke five records and the women broke six.

Kevin Jackson, 23, from Olympia won the 5K swim with a time of 59 minutes and 28 seconds. Robbie Allen, 52, from Port Hueneme, California, won the 3K with a time of 36 minutes, 11 seconds.

New this year was the casual Julie Montiel Friends and Family 3K swim, which allowed swimmers to use fins, hand paddles and other swim aides. Four swimmers participated, including islander Michael List, 64, who was the lone swimmer from Vashon. He swam the 3K in 59 minutes and 3 seconds.

Saturday’s event was the fourth annual Swim Defiance race based on a 1926 swim that was the first ever organized competitive swim between Vashon and Point Defiance.