PORTLAND, Maine - Despite a couple of setbacks, including a massive sewage release into Casco Bay, the waters were deemed clear enough for athletes to jump in and swim from Peaks Island to East End Beach on Saturday morning.
The 2.4-mile swim saw 389 finishers, most clad in wetsuits, out of more than 500 registered.
First in the women's division was Cheryl Daly of South Portland. Daly, who has won the race three times since 2014, finished with a time of 49:04.9.
First in the men's division was John Stevens of Portland who finished in 44:13.4. Stevens was also a familiar face, having won the race several times in previous years, but it was his first win in two decades.
The fate of this year's benefit race was uncertain, first because of a 1-million gallon release of partially treated sewage on Thursday, which spiked bacteria levels at the finish line, and then because of bad weather and heavy fog.
Peaks to Portland has a history dating back to the early 20th century, but it was revived as a formal, benefit event by the Southern Maine YMCA in 1982.
