SEA BRIGHT — The ocean mile swim, which was at one time an annual event in the borough, is back.
The Andy/Rooney Sea Bright Ocean Mile Swim will be held July 26.
“It was around in the 1980s and 1990s and stopped after 2006,” Councilman Charles Rooney III said, adding that since races were a big part of his father’s life, it would be special to host the race once again.
Rooney’s father, former mayor Charles Rooney, served the shore town from 1988 until he passed away in 1999.
The Sea Bright Ocean Mile Swim will be in held memory of Andrew Manning and Charles Rooney. Manning was a former councilman of the borough.
When the elder Rooney was recognized by Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-Monmouth) in 1999, he noted that Rooney ran 17 career marathons starting when he was 48 years old.
“Mayor Rooney ran the entire length of the New Jersey Atlantic Coastline, from Sandy Hook to Cape May, in just over four days,” he said.
The younger Rooney enlisted Doug Rice, who has founded various run and swim events in the area, including the first War at the Shore Duathlon in 1989, Indian Trials Road Race and the Sandy Hookers Triathlon Club, to help organize the event.
Rice owns and operates Split Second Racing, which currently produces and times 15 events annually.
He said they would provide buses for swimmers who would swim from south to north.
Rooney said the event is good for the town.
“This will bring people into the town,” he said, adding that the race organizers are working with the business community to offer incentives to attract people to the local businesses after the race.
Options include free coffee if a participant brings their swim cap in.
“The idea is to get people in the door,” Rooney said.
The pre-registration fee is $25 until July 19. The race-day fee is $30.
T-shirts will be given to the first 150 swimmers. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the race starts at 8:30 a.m.
For more information, visit www.seabrightnj.org or email [email protected].