Cruce a Nado Internacional

Cruce a Nado Internacional is a yearly international swimming competition that takes place at Bahía de Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is the oldest open water swimming event in the Caribbean.[9] The event generally occurs on the first Sunday of September, to coincide with the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend every year. The event is sponsored by Club Cruce a Nado, Inc.[10] Some 100 athletes compete.[11] The event started in 1980.

Cruce a Nado Internacional

Current season, competition or edition: 2019
Isla Cardona from where athletes must swim to the Ponce shore
Formerly	Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce, Puerto Rico[1]
Sport	Swimming
Founded	1980
Founder	Efrén Coímbre de Jesús[2]
Inaugural season	September 1980
Owner(s)	Club Cruce a Nado, Inc.[3]
Director	Héctor Pérez Torres[4]
President	Jose Santiago[5] (2018 - incumbent) Dr. Francisco Alcala Carrera[6] (2011? - 2018)
No. of teams	Over 100 athletes[7]
Country	Argentina  Bolivia  Colombia  Costa Rica  Dominican Republic  Ecuador  El Salvador  Guatemala  Honduras  Mexico  Nicaragua  Panama  Puerto Rico  United States  Venezuela  United States Virgin Islands
Venue(s)	Parque Enrique González, El Malecón, Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Most recent champion(s)	Venezuela
TV partner(s)	WPAB[8]
Sponsor(s)	Municipality of Ponce
Level on pyramid	Men's, Women's, Over 56+
Domestic cup(s)	Copa Héctor Pérez
Notes
Host Country:  Ponce,  Puerto Rico

History

A crowd attends the 39th Cruce a Nado Internacional at Bahía de Ponce, Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico

The competition started in 1980[12] under the sponsorship of the Ponce Municipal Government.[13] It has gained popularity every year with a greater number of athletes participating from an equally greater number of countries. In 2008, 16 countries were represented.[14] The competition abides by the rules of the Federación Internacional de Natación (FINA) (International Swimming Federation) and the approval of the Federación Puertorriqueña de Natación (FPN) (Puerto Rican Swimming Federation).[15] Countries that have competed in the past include Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela.[16][17][18] The competition originally included local Puerto Rican swimmers only, but after two years, it was opened to foreign nationals as well.[19]

It is a common practice to dedicate the event to athletes who have made outstanding accomplishments in the sport. On 4 September 2011, the 30th annual competition was dedicated to Orlando Fernández, a.k.a. "The Puerto Rican Aquaman", the first Puerto Rican to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, in recognition of his accomplishments.[20]

Venue

Finish line and portal at the competition. Isla Cardona, from where swimmers depart, is in the far background, between the two blue pillars of the portal

The competition consists of crossing the Bay of Ponce from Cardona Island, which is situated about 1.5 nautical miles[21] from mainland's Puerto Rico southern shores in Ponce, to the southern shore of Puerto Rico at Ponce.[22] The entire event starts on the Thursday before the Sunday of the competitions with music, shows and traditional foods.[23] The Ponce Municipal Government contributes $20,000 to the costs of celebrating the event.[24]

Procedure

Athletes are taken by boat to Isla Cardona which is located just 1.5 nautical miles from the mainland. At the sound of the whistle, athletes then swim the 2,800 meters - 1.5 nautical miles - across the bay towards sector El Malecón in Playa de Ponce.[25] Athletes arrive at Parque Enrique González[26] in Playa de Ponce, which is located across from the U.S. Customs House and has an area with steps that lead down to the bay waters.[27] The first athlete to arrive is the winner. First place, second place, and third place awards are given. The Mayor of Ponce awaits athletes at El Malecon's finish line to bestow medals, prizes and other awards on the winners.[28]

Beyond the two main competitive divisions based on gender (Men's and Women's), the 2009 event consisted of two categories: "Categoria Abierta", open to those between ages 13 and 25; and "Categoria Masters", open to those over 26 years of age.[29] The 2011 edition also had the "Over 56+" category for those 56 years old and older.[30]

Winners

As an added bonus and incentive to the first Puerto Rican who makes it to the finish line, in 2008 the municipality added the "Copa Héctor Pérez" (Spanish for Héctor Pérez Cup), which is given to the athlete with those qualities and merit. In 2008, it went to Nathaniel Ramos. Héctor Pérez Torres, born in Playa de Ponce, is a sportsman and community leader, and has been organizing the Cruce a Nado Internacional event.[31]

2005 (25th Competition)

As reported by Panama's La Prensa, here is the list of winners.[32]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Manuel Chiu Pérez	Mexico	1:02.02
2	Rolando Salas	Venezuela	1:02.15
3	John Kerry	United States	1:02.27

2009 (29th Competition)

As reported by the La Regata: el Periodico Nautico de Puerto Rico newsweekly, here is the list of winners.[33][34]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Christian Bayo	Puerto Rico	37.06.00
2	Miguel A. Davila	Colombia	37.06.10
3	Víctor Manuel Muñoz	Dominican Republic	39.09.10

Women's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Maria G. Muñoz	Guatemala	42.34.12
2	Zuliemarie Hornedo	Puerto Rico	42.34.45
3	Betsmara Cruz	Puerto Rico	43.27.10

56+ Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Giampiero Rosati	Unknown	01:26.10.00

2010 (30th Competition)

As reported by "Agencia Venezolana de Noticias, Torre Lincoln, Piso 7, Sabana Grande, Caracas, Venezuela", here are the 2010 Men's and Women's winners.[35]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Marcos Lavado	Venezuela	35.37
2	Álvaro Lozano	Venezuela	35:48
3	José Sánchez	Ecuador	38.21

Women's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Karla Díaz	Venezuela	38:43
2	Florencia Melo	Venezuela	38:44
3	Cartha Rodríguez	Puerto Rico	41.27

2011 (31st Competition)

As reported by "El Sur a la Vista", here are the 2011 winners in each of the three divisions.[36]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Marcos Lavado	Venezuela	34:08
2	Alvaro Lozano	Venezuela	34:11
3	Nathaniel Ramos	Puerto Rico	34:21

Women's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Carla Díaz	Venezuela	37:40
2	Florencia Melo	Venezuela	37:40
3	María Gabriela Muñoz	Guatemala	37:45
4	Betsmara Cruz	Puerto Rico	38:23

56+ Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Eduardo Mayol	Unknown	48:46

2012 (32nd Competition)

As reported by "La Perla del Sur", here are the 2012 winners.[37]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Marcos Lavado	Venezuela	33:19.07
2	Alvaro Lozano	Venezuela	33:21.20
3	Not Available	N/A	N/A

2013 (33rd Competition)

As reported by La Perla del Sur newsweekly, here is the list of winners.[38]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Iván Enderica	Ecuador	35.30
2	Alvaro Lozano	Venezuela	36:27
3	Isaías Vázquez Tavera	Colombia	36:29

Women's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Cindy C. Toscano	Guatemala	41:36
2	Paula Montoy	Colombia	41:53
3	Eliana Disla Pascual	República Dominicana	41:52

Puerto Rican Men's Swimmers awards

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Víctor D. Gaud	Puerto Rico	36:38
2	Jean Carlos Pantojas	Puerto Rico	37:28
3	Calvin Ayala Velázquez	Puerto Rico	37:37
4	Ricardo Miranda	Puerto Rico	37:49

Puerto Rican Women's Swimmers awards

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Gabriela M. Oquendo	Puerto Rico	43:13

2014 (34th Competition)

As reported by La Perla del Sur newsweekly, here is the list of winners.[39]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Isaias Vazquez	Colombia	37:36.04
2	Miguel Portes	Dominican Republic	37:36.05
3	Nathaniel Ramos	Puerto Rico	39:20.09
4	Walter Caballero	Bolivia	40:09.83

Women's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Eliana Disla Pascual	Dominican Republic	43:12.25
2	Zuleimarie Hornedo	Puerto Rico	44:22.43
3	Laura Figueroa	Puerto Rico	46:00.79
4	Paula Montoya	Colombia	46:31.16

Puerto Rican Men's Swimmers awards

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Nathaniel Ramos	Puerto Rico	39:20.09
2	Victor Gaud	Puerto Rico	40:14.60
3	Calvin Ayala	Puerto Rico	40:19.87

Puerto Rican Women's Swimmers awards

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Zuleimarie Hornedo	Puerto Rico	44:22.43
2	Laura Figueroa	Puerto Rico	46:00.79
3	Maria Victoria Burgos	Puerto Rico	47:32.38

2015 (35th Competition)

As reported by DeportivAPP[40] and Agenda56[41] here is the list of winners.

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Miguel Portes	Dominican Republic	35:20.60
1	Isaías Taveras	Colombia	unknown

2016 (36th Competition)

As reported by DeportivAPP, here is the list of winners.[42]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Miguel Portes	Dominican Republic	39:22

2017 (37th Competition)

As reported by 1968: Noticias de Natación de Venezuela y el Mundo, here is the list of winners.[43]

Men's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Jesus Roso	Venezuela	34:31
2	Edgar Aguiar	Venezuela	unk
3	Jowie Gadea	Puerto Rico	unk

Women's Division

Pos.	Name	Country	Time
1	Karelis Clemant Materano	Venezuela	39:17
2	Fátima Flores	El Salvador	unk
3	Cindy Toscano	Guatemala	unk

2018 (38th Competition)

The 38th Competition is scheduled to take place on 2 September 2018.[44][45]

See also

• Las Justas
• Ponce Grand Prix de Atletismo
• Ponce Marathon
• Ponce Grand Prix
• Carnaval de Ponce
• Feria de Artesanías de Ponce
• Ponce Jazz Festival
• Fiesta Nacional de la Danza
• Día Mundial de Ponce
• Festival Nacional de la Quenepa
• Bienal de Arte de Ponce

References

1. Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
2. Regresa el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1522. Page 53. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
3. Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
4. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
5. Para su edición 39: Estrena presidente el Cruce a Nado de la Bahía de Ponce: Para la cita deportiva se unen nadadores de Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, República Dominicana, Venezuela y Puerto Rico.. Junior Lugo Marreo. La Perla del Sur. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
6. Cruce a nado en Ponce. El Nuevo Dia. Videos. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
7. Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
8. De fiesta La Playa con otro Cruce a Nado Internacional. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 29 August 2018. Accessed 29 August 2018. [Printed edition: 29 August - 4 September 2018. Year 35. Issue 1813. Page 26.]
9. Miguel Portes gana cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce. Víctor Báez. DeportivAPP. 8 September 2016. Accessed 23 January 2017.
10. Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
11. Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
12. Playa Ponce: Central America » Caribbean » Puerto Rico: August 31st 2008. TravelBlog. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
13. Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Brevario Sobre la Historia de Ponce. Second Edition. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. 2002. Page 13. Printed by Impress Quality Printing, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
14. Playa Ponce: Central America » Caribbean » Puerto Rico: August 31st 2008. TravelBlog. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
15. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
16. Apuestan venezolanos en el Cruce a Nado. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
17. Regresa el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1522. Page 53. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
18. Atletas de 12 países en cruce a nado de la Bahía de Ponce. Associated Press. Noticias Online. 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
19. Venezolanos victoriosos en Cruce de Bahía de Ponce. AVN (Agencia Venezolana de Noticias) Deportes. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
20. Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
21. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
22. West Indies Pilot, Volume 1. United States Hydrographic Office. Page 599. Fourth Edition: 1922. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
23. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
24. Deportes: ¿existirían sin subsidios? Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
25. Regresa el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1522. Page 53. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
26. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
27. Playa Ponce: Central America » Caribbean » Puerto Rico: August 31st 2008. TravelBlog. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
28. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
29. La Playa de Ponce celebra el Cruce a Nado. Archived 2013-10-02 at the Wayback Machine Raquel Torres Arzola. La Regata: el Periodico Nautico de Puerto Rico. Editorial La Regata, Inc. Caguas, Puerto Rico. Year 12. Number 8. Page 3. 29 October-2 November 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
30. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
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32. Puerto Rico. Compitieron mas de 40 nadadores: Castillo figuró entre los 10 grandes en el cruce a la Bahía de Ponce. Reinaldo A. Weeks D. La Prensa. Panama, Central America. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
33. La Playa de Ponce celebra el Cruce a Nado. Raquel Torres Arzola. La Regata: el Periodico Nautico de Puerto Rico. Editorial La Regata, Inc. Caguas, Puerto Rico. Year 12. Number 8. Page 3. 29 October-2 November 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
34. Víctor Muñoz hizo trabajo estelar en Cruce a Nado PR. Archived 2013-08-28 at Archive.today 13 September 2009. Hoy newspaper (Dominican Republic). 13 September 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
35. Venezolanos victoriosos en Cruce de Bahía de Ponce. AVN (Agencia Venezolana de Noticias) Deportes. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
36. Nuevo record en el cruce a nado de la playa de Ponce. Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
37. Regresa el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1522. Page 53. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
38. Ecuatoriano gana el Cruce a Nado. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1554. Page 52. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
39. Triunfan Colombia y Dominicana en el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 32. Issue 1605. Page 44. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
40. Miguel Portes gana cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce. Víctor Báez. DeportivAPP. 8 September 2016. Accessed 23 January 2017.
41. Miguel Portes domina el cruce a nado de la bahía de Ponce. DiarioLibre.com 16 September 2015. Accessed 23 January 2017
42. Miguel Portes gana cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce. Víctor Báez. DeportivAPP. 8 September 2016. Accessed 23 January 2017.
43. Karelis Clemant y Jesús Roso triunfan en el 37° Cruce a Nado Internacional Bahía de Ponce. Roberto Muñoz. Natación 1968. 4 September 2017. Accessed 28 September 2018.
44. Cayo Cardona: Un Nuevo Destino en la Bahía de Ponce. Waldo D. Covas Quevedo. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1 to 7 August 2018. Year 35. Issue 1809. 1 August 2018. Page 11. Accessed 1 August 2018.
45. De fiesta La Playa con otro Cruce a Nado Internacional: El Cruce a Nado contará con la participación de nadadores de Panamá, Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, República Dominicana y Puerto Rico, entre otros. La Perla Del Sur. 29 August 2018. Accessed 28 August 2019.

External links

• See Video of Cruce al Nado HERE