Rancho Santa Margarita Woman Races in Pier to Pier Victory

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA—At the International Surf Festival's Annual Dwight Crum Pier to Pier swim. More than 1,200 people participated in the annual race where swimmers swim from Hermosa Beach Pier to Manhattan Beach Pier.

24-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita resident Stephanie Peacock was the first woman across the pier to pier finish line. She finished fourth overall, with her time, 42:45.

This popular long distance swim has contestants enter the water on the south side of the 10th Street Life Guard Tower (south of the Hermosa Beach Pier), then swim around the pier, parallel to the shore, then round the Manhattan Beach Pier and finish on that beach, according to the Surf Festival.org website.

"I was in the middle of the lead pack, and somehow managed to get out of the pack," Stephanie Peackock said in interview with Breeze Prep Sports. "I was proud of having that strategy."

According to results, 32-year-old Ryan Bullock won of Torrance, CA won his third International Surf Festival title in the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim with time of 41:18. Defending champion Kevin Fink, a 20-year-old San Pedro resident, finished just behind, with a time of 41:53. Palos Verdes resident, 18-year-old Will Abele finished at 42:20.

Fourth to complete the race, Peacock was the first woman to complete the annual swimming competition.

"It feels good to come out with a win," she said.

Patch File Photo