JACKSONVILLE, Florida, April 20. THE 2013 edition of the Jax 50 sprint challenge featured a bevy of Olympic talent, all vying for the title in this unique head-to-head 50-yard free only tournament.
Trinidad and Tobago's George Bovell won the final confrontation in the men's bracket with a 19.20 to 19.48 triumph ahead of U.S. Olympian Cullen Jones. Meanwhile, Vanderpool-Wallace clinched the women's crown 22.25 to 22.48 against Amanda Weir. Weir is a U.S. Olympian, while event champion Vanderpool-Wallace has represented the Bahamas in the Olympics.
Men's final race via Florida Swim Network
Women's final race via Florida Swim Network
The meet also featured the likes of Ricky Berens throwing down a 19.40 to beat 16-year-old Caeleb Dressel for fifth-place honors just a day before Berens' birthday. The crowd in attendance sang him Happy Birthday prior to one of his swims.
The Jax 50 first began several years ago as a fundraiser to help the Planet Swim Foundation, which is a non-profit organization created by Gustavo Calado and Sergio Lopez. The Foundation helps underprivileged children in North Florida with free swim lessons, and has been able to fund learn to swim programs for 157 children thus far.
Not only does the Jax 50 feature the sprint challenge, it also has a clinic the following day with the professional swimmers in attendance.