The First Ever Annapolis 9/11 Heroes Open Water 5k

The Annapolis 9/11 Heroes Run went virtual this year due to COVID-19. The event is hosted by the Travis Manion Foundation to honor the heroes who lost their lives in 9/11 and the wars since.

People were encouraged to sign up and run their own race anytime between September and Nov. 1. When race director Natanya Levioff said participants could “run it, ruck it, walk it, bike it, heck - swim it…,” she didn’t think anyone would actually organize a swim.

Jerry Frentsos, author of “Intentionally Well” and a swimmer who has broken 20 Masters world records, accepted the challenge. On Oct. 10, he hosted a 5k water course in the South River that participants could choose to either swim, kayak or stand-up paddle board.

Hosting this event in memory of the 9/11 heroes is personal for Frentos, whose father was a decorated army veteran who served in World War Ⅱ.

As far as Levioff knows, it’s the first official 9/11 heroes swim that has taken place in the 13 years of the Heroes Run.

The Travis Manion Foundation was founded in honor of 1st Lt. Travis Manion of the United States Marine Corps, who was killed in 2007 during his second tour in Iraq while saving his wounded teammates. This year's event honors Lt. Brendan Looney, a Navy SEAL who was killed 3 years after Manion. They were roommates at the Naval Academy and now lie next to each other in Arlington Cemetery.

“So you guys are swimming for Brendan. You're swimming for Travis. You're swimming to honor all of our COVID-19 frontline workers who've been doing all the amazing things they've been doing since this whole pandemic started,” said Levioff before the start of the event.

The open water 5k consisted of four laps around a triangular course marked by a giant floating flamingo, yellow buoy and boat. Swimmer and kayakers alike shared the waters, safely enjoying the camaraderie of each other's presence.

Monica Manthey was one of the kayakers out on the water. Her late husband was a Vietnam veteran who served in the 173rd airborne. Last year, she participated in the Annapolis 9/11 Heroes Run at the Navy Corps Memorial Stadium. When she heard of the open water event this year, she knew she had to attend.

“I think the whole foundation does a wonderful job to bring awareness to our veterans and those that are serving on our behalf to give us the freedoms that we enjoy,” said Manthey.

Catherine Kozub, a D.C. resident who has been swimming at the South River for two months, enjoyed this opportunity to support the U.S. service men and women. “It felt different from what we do in our practices because of knowing that I’d signed up to support this event,” she said. “It was inspiring and motivational.”

The water event raised $530 dollars, surpassing the original $500 goal.

From September until Nov. 1, over 600 people signed up to either run, walk, ruck, bike, swim, or sail the Annapolis 9/11 Heroes event, raising just under $20K. All proceeds are used to support Travis Manion Foundation programs that empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations.