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Open-water swimmers race across scenic Newark Reservoir
Swimmers tackle 800-meter, 1,600-meter, and swim-run challenges at Newark Reservoir during an evening competition built for athletes and supporters.
Event details
Newark Reservoir turns into a proper open-water racecourse for one June evening, a rare chance for freshwater swimmers to compete just outside the city center rather than driving out to the coast. Delaware SwimFest offers 800-meter and 1,600-meter distances alongside a swim-run format, with staggered starts that keep the water from feeling crowded at the gun and give slower swimmers their own clear lane.
The reservoir setting is scenic in an understated way: tree-lined banks, calm water, and an evening start that lets the light go gold as the last swimmers finish and awards get underway. It’s a low-key, low-cost outing for spectators, who can walk the shoreline path and watch nearly the entire course from a handful of vantage points without ever losing sight of the field.
Athletes traveling from outside northern Delaware can build a full weekend around the race. White Clay Creek State Park’s trails sit close by for a post-race hike or bike ride, and downtown Newark offers a walkable base with restaurants suited to refueling after an evening in the water. The evening start is also a welcome detail for anyone driving in after a full workday. Spectating is free.
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