Friends Beach to Beach Power Swim Recap

News of St. John | May 28, 2026 | Good Morning St. John. Three hundred sixty-one swimmers hit the water at Maho Bay on Sunday morning, and when the dust settled on the 23rd Annual Joe Kessler’s Beach to Beach Power Swim, a 14-year-old from St. Thomas was standing at the top of the overall results.

Reagan Uszenski touched the sand at Hawksnest Beach first in the long course unassisted division, completing the 3.5-mile swim from Maho Bay without fins, snorkel, or any other gear. The long course unassisted swimmers are considered the top finishers of the entire event, and Reagan’s win is the second time a female swimmer has ever claimed the overall title in the race’s 23-year history. Behind her, Sabina Csak finished second and Luis came in third, meaning the top three finishers overall were all women. Csak, now 21, was the top female finisher in last year’s race as well, as noted by Friends of Virgin Islands National Park.

If the Uszenski name sounds familiar, it should. Edward Uszenski finished third in the men’s short course division on Sunday, according to the St. John Source’s race-day coverage. Swimming clearly runs in the family.

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If you’ve ever watched the Power Swim from shore, you know the energy is something special. The event, which takes place every Memorial Day weekend and is ranked among the top 25 open water swims in the world, drew participants ranging in age from 5 to 86 this year. Swimmers came from 35 U.S. states and territories, plus the British Virgin Islands, Canada, and Brazil, all to raise funds for Friends of Virgin Islands National Park and its programs including Learn To Swim, Sea Turtle Protection, and education outreach.

One of the best stories of the day came from the relay division. A three-person team calling themselves the “Venerable Veterans” finished third in the long course relay, and for good reason. Former Senator-at-Large Craig Barshinger, Alfredo Del Omo, and Karen Cannell have each competed in every single one of the 23 Beach to Beach Power Swims since the event began in 2004. Barshinger traveled all the way from Colorado, where he now lives with his family, just to keep the streak alive, as reported by the St. John Source.

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Across the other divisions, young swimmers dominated. Sixteen-year-old David Rainer of Fairhope, Alabama won the men’s short course from Maho to Cinnamon Bay in 21 minutes and 45 seconds. His sister, 19-year-old Suzanne Rainer, took the women’s short course title in just over 24 minutes. The Rainers are no strangers to this race. Back in 2023, David placed third overall in the short course as a 13-year-old, while Suzanne helped win the long course relay, according to reporting by Judi Shimel for the St. John Source.

In the intermediate course from Maho to Trunk Bay, 17-year-old Sasha Poe claimed the overall win in 49 minutes and 40 seconds, also leading the women’s division. Katie Papa, 32, finished second overall, followed by 16-year-old Quinnton Caines in third, per the Source’s coverage.

The youth presence was a theme all day. Twenty-seven competitors under age 18 took part, and nine members of the Friends’ own Learn To Swim program were among the swimmers. About 57 families registered together, proving once again that this event is as much about community as it is about competition, according to the Friends’ pre-race release.

Behind the scenes, 135 volunteers worked on land and at sea to keep everyone safe, backed by 55 sponsors. The 2026 event logo was designed by Alyssa Paris, a St. John native whose multidisciplinary art practice is rooted in curiosity and experimentation.

Racers, volunteers, and supporters gathered later in the day for an after-party at Cinnamon Bay Campground, celebrating another successful year of one of our island’s most beloved traditions.

If you missed it this year, start planning for 2027. There’s nothing quite like watching hundreds of swimmers take off from Maho Bay on a Sunday morning, heading down our North Shore through some of the most beautiful water in the world. And if Reagan Uszenski is any indication, you never know who might make history next.

Full results are available at friendsvinp.org/power-swim-results-2026. To learn more about Friends of Virgin Islands National Park and the programs the Power Swim supports, visit friendsvinp.org.