Hempstead Town Supervisor Rich Guardino has announced that the Empire State Masters Swim Club will hold its Fourth Annual One Mile Ocean Swim at Town Park Point Lookout on Saturday, July 14. The supervisor said, "An estimated 200 contestants, in three age categories, are to compete in this open water championship. The event is sanctioned by United States Masters Swimming, an organization with 37,000 members nationally. This is the first year the competition is part of the Colonies Zone Masters Swim Series, making it open to swimmers from Maine to Virginia. It is also the final part of three open water meets in the Colonies Zone series that started in Massachusetts."

The open water swim event is open to United States Masters Swimming members who are at least 19 years of age. Check-in is at 6:15 a.m. at Point Lookout with the swim beginning at 8 a.m. sharp. Swimmers must have a valid 2001 United States Masters registration card to participate. There is an entry fee of $30 payable on the day of the race up until 7:45 a.m.

"I encourage town residents to visit Town Park Point Lookout on July 14 to witness this East Coast challenge. Since the Masters Swim Club is composed of swimmers from the New York metropolitan area, I am certain there will be many familiar faces among the competitors," Guardino said. The town supervisor added that this year's event is part of the "2001 National One-Mile Swim Championships" for master swimmers, drawing from the USM's national membership of recreational and competitive swimmers.

For more information about this event call 766-1264 or email race director Bob Kolonkowski at rpk248@mindspring.com. Call Town Park Point Lookout at 431-3900 for directions. Visit the Town of Hempstead website at www.townofhempstead.org for recreation updates.