Beaufort River Swim winner hopes victory a path to bigger things

Yorlliry Moreno remembers leaving Venezuela for the United States at a young age as his father followed his dream.

Now Moreno hopes to forge the same path and become a professional triathlete.

The Bluffton resident cruised to victory at the 10th annual Beaufort River Swim on Saturday as part of his ongoing training. He finished in 52 minutes, 27 seconds, a minute ahead of the next finisher.

Moreno, 25, graduated from Bluffton High School and swam at Pfeiffer University. He has a full summer as he works toward top finishes in Ironman events to secure his professional status.

Last week he was in Charleston and Sunday he’ll compete in a triathlon in Tybee Island, Ga.

“I’m close,” said Moreno, who goes by George. “I just have to hit that right race. It’s having the right day to do it.”

About 125 swimmers took the water Saturday for the 3.2-mile swim from Port Royal Landing Marina to Beaufort Downtown Marina. The open-water swim is unique for its current and murky water.

Swimmers reported a slower tide than past years. Kayaks and small boats patrol the water for safety and to ensure swimmers stay on course.

The event often draws some of Beaufort County’s top competitive swimmers. Swim teams for Hilton Head Island and Wardle Family YMCA in Port Royal were at other meets Saturday.

That was good news for Cheryl Reinke, the 51-year-old York resident who was the top female finisher. She crossed the line in 55 minutes, 21 seconds to grab a coveted bobblehead doll.

“I bring my swimmers here, because I love the shirts and love the bobbleheads,” said Reinke, who coaches the Rock Hill Masters swim team.

Reinke regularly competes in marathon swims. She is preparing for a 100-mile swim in New York later this summer.

So 3 miles with the tide was a breeze, though Reinke surged at the end to ensure she finished ahead of a closing swimmer.

This was her fourth year, and she has won her age group each time. This was her first time as the first woman to cross the finish.

“This is the first time that the half-centuries get to dominate,” she said.

The Beaufort River Swim benefits the a YMCA program providing financial assistance to families and individuals for swim lessons. About half of the YMCA’s 1,500 lessons last year were program participants.

Organizers added a 1-mile fun swim, which left from the dock behind Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

The swim was Moreno’s fifth or sixth time here, he said, and his second victory.

Moreno’s father, Omar, was a professional triathlete. The son is working toward the same goal.

The work includes about six or seven big races a year. And the daily work.

“Hours upon hours and miles upon miles,” Moreno said. “It’s the passion that keeps me going. I love it.”

This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Beaufort River Swim winner hopes victory a path to bigger things."