eeboater
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- Jul 19, 2004
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Dog Beats Most in Swim From Alcatraz<br /><br />SAN FRANCISCO - With a stomach full of scrambled eggs, Jake dog-paddled his way into history, leaving most of the serious and human swimmers in his wake.<br /><br />Organizers of the South End Rowing Club's 10th annual Alcatraz Invitational a 1.2 mile swim from the infamous prison island to the San Francisco shoreline say the 65-pound golden retriever is the first canine known to have made the crossing.<br /><br />He was the only dog among more than 500 swimmers who lept into the chilly, choppy waters on Saturday, coming in 72nd overall. His time was 41 minutes and 45 seconds.<br /><br />The crowd cheered as the 4-year-old pooch made his way onto solid ground, shaking sprays of water and dodging a woman who tried to put a medal around his neck.<br /><br />"It was colder and rougher than we thought it would be," said Jeff Pokonosky, Jake's owner and swim partner. "Jake amazed me. He was very focused. He started out really fast. I was trying to slow him down. He increased his pace to stay with the pack."<br /><br />The pair live in San Diego and swim 4 miles a week and bodysurf together, Pokonosky said. And Jake always eats scrambled eggs before a big swim.<br /><br />Bill Wygant, president of the South End Rowing Club, said he was more than happy to allow a dog into the race, a first for the more than 100-year-old group.<br /><br />"This swim is about personal challenge," Wygant said. "Whether you are dog or human, it's whatever you can achieve that counts."<br /><br /> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/alcatraz...P8DW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl