SANDPOINT — Attendees lined Dog Beach and the Long Bridge to once again watch over 700 swimmers complete the 31st annual, 1.76-mile, Long Bridge swim.

Owen and Trace Bennett, two brothers from Coeur d'Alene and Lake City High School students, topped the board. Owen Bennett, a 17-year-old and the older of the brothers, barely edged out 14-year-old Trace Bennett for the top spot in the swim with a 35:18.  

The 2026 swim was their third time attempting the swim and Owen Bennett's second overall title, while Trace Bennett topped the male 13-14 age group with a 35:21. 

"It's painful the whole way, but it's fun though," Owen Bennett said. "I think we were both pushing each other, feeding off each other... I'm so happy." 

Not trailing far behind the brotherly duo was Joshua Jackson of Sandpoint. The 14-year-old and member of the Sandpoint Sharks club finished with a 38:47, landing a silver medal in his age group behind Trace Bennett.  

The pride of Sandpoint High, Bodi Demmons claimed second place in his male 15-19 age group with an impressive 41:09 time, the seventh best of all swimmers. Demmons was narrowly beaten by recent Cheney High graduate Sawyer Kissell, who finished with a 40:15 time to top the group. 

All the way from El Paso, TX, Clake Loeffert finished third in the male 15-19 age group, just 12 seconds behind Demmons with a 41:21. 

Out of British Columbia, Zoe Froh was the first in the female group to finish the swim with a total time of 41:23. The 24-year-old was a whole minute faster than the second-place finisher, a 44-year-old from Coeur d'Alene, Courtney Chase, who finished with a 42:28. 

Wedged in between the top times of soon-to-be high school stars was Sandpoint native Josh Burt, who finished sixth overall and won the male 45-49 group with a final time of 40:54. 

It was yet another strong showing for the Sandpoint Sharks swim club. Myelle Jensen took home first place in her female 13-14 group with a 44:54, the 23rd best overall time. Jensen bested Parker Carlson of Coeur d'Alene, who finished with a 45:02, to win the group. The organization's coaches also boasted impressive results as head coach Emily Renzini won her age group, female 30-34, with a 45:18 final time. 

The swim is put on annually to support water safety training and swim lessons for local kids in Bonner and Boundary County. It's for that reason that volunteers like Lucy West and Brent Binnall said they continue to show up and help year after year. 

West said that the swim saw a record number of registrants, around 900, and while there were only 754 finishers, the event continues to grow because of its intent. 

"This event helps save lives; that is the goal," West said.  

Heading into this year's swim, there was a concern that it might look far different after the Idaho Department of Transportation closed the pedestrian Long Bridge in early June. West said organizers were deep into discussions about how to handle safety and the thousands of onlookers without the bridge open. 

However, a month later, ITD reopened the bridge, which allowed this year to look like those of old, with hundreds of people watching their friends and family from the Long Bridge. 

"When they opened it up right before the event, we, the directors, all of us, were like 'Woo Hoo!' It took so much pressure off," West said. "It's an icon of the event and so important." 

West, who handles designing the commemorative towels and t-shirts for the event, has been involved for the past 13 years. She said every year she still gets emotional watching the first finishers make their landing at Dog Beach. 

"I feel so proud and honored to be a part of this," West said. "This is just such a special thing for our community." 

MALE 

Overall — 1, Owen Bennet, 35:18. 10-and-under — K. Thomure, 1:06:29. 11-12 — M. Salg, 54:36. 13-14 — Trace Bennett, 35.21. 15-19 — Sawyer Kissell, 40.15. 20-24 — James Adams, 42.30. 25-29 — Byron Rossmiller, 41:50. 30-34 — David Higgins, 46.15. 35-39 — Marshel Renz, 45:43. 40-44 — Chris Carper, 51:53. 45-49 — Josh Burt, 40:54. 50-54 — Jeff Rigg, 43.38. 55-59 — Christopher Danesi, 41:57. 60-64 — Todd Cory, 46.51. 65-69 — Rob Davis, 45:11. 70-74 — Holger Caban, 48:39. 75-79 — Jackson Crutsinger, 1:03:09. 

FEMALE  

Overall — 1, Zoe Froh, 41:23. 10-and-under — K. Bracht, 1:00:47. 11-12 — K. Bourke, 45:14. 13-14 — Myelle Jensen, 44:54. 15-19 — Maggie Sobek, 42.55. 20-24 — Riley Taylor, 42.58. 25-29 — Natalie Atkins, 43.04. 30-34 — Emily Renzini, 45:18. 35-39 — Alex McAnally, 45:15. 40-44 — Courtney Chase, 42.28. 45-49 — Anonymous Participant, 54:45. 50-54 — Karen Robbins, 52:40. 55-59 — Susie Eisenstat, 47:12. 60-64 — Barbara Thrasher, 45:22. 65-69 — Beth Knight, 45:29. 70-74 — June Fogerty, 1:02:14. 75-79 — Susan Hales, 1:08:28.

    Lake City High School's Owen Bennett climbs out of Lake Pend Oreille to win the 31st annual Long Bridge swim on Saturday. Bennett bested over 700 finishers, including his younger brother, with a 35:18 final time.
  

    Long Bridge swim participant Melissa Kirby smiles after landing at Dog Beach and completing the iconic 1.76-mile swim. She finished with a 55:20 final time, seventh in her division.
  

    Two Long Bridge swim participants hug after completing the 1.76-mile open water swim.
  

    Long Bridge swim participants cross the finish line set up at Dog Beach on Saturday morning. The swim saw over 700 people finish the 31st event.
  

    Sandpoint's Joshua Jackson, 14, crosses the finish line at the Long Bridge swim. Jackson placed second in his division with a 38:47 final time, the third-best overall.