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Shriner completes Key West swim

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Dr. Bill Shriner, a dentist and avid swimmer from Lake Placid, competed in the 33rd annual swim around Key West in June.

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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: July 4, 2009

LAKE PLACID - Dr. Bill Shriner, a dentist and avid swimmer from Lake Placid, competed in the 33rd annual swim around Key West in June.

Shriner competed against 65 other swimmers in the 12.5 mile race, with 15 mph winds making the event even more demanding and he managed to finish 16th in the men's solo division.

Along with 27 solo swimmers, there were 14 relay teams consisting of two and three persons.

The historic swim has been a Key West tradition since 1977 and is a very popular race for any distance swimmer who appreciates a challenge.

The course, which started at the southwestern tip of the island, was swum clockwise around the entire island through channels, under bridges and ended with a four-mile stretch along the Atlantic side of the island back to the start.

The swimmers were most exposed to the wind the last four miles and Shriner, who was followed by his wife, Joyce, and son-in-law, Richard, in a Kayak, finished the grueling race in six hours, 51 minutes.

This was Shriner's fifth time competing in the race, and even though he had predicted a faster time, he was satisfied with his finish.

Marcos Diaz of the Dominican Republic won the event in a time of 4:32.19, while the 68-year-old Shriner was the oldest swimmer and received a trophy for his age group and a medal for his finish.

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